Jewish Tourist Attacked Twice in 24 Hours in Central Rome Amid Anti-Semitic Abuse

A 22-year-old French Jewish tourist from Paris, Yitzhak Dahan, was assaulted twice within 24 hours in central Rome while on a family vacation. The first attack occurred on the evening of August 7 near the Jewish Ghetto in Piazza Cairoli, where a man sprayed pepper spray in Dahan's face after shouting "Free Palestine" at him. The following evening, August 8, around 8:20 p.m., Dahan was attacked again about 300 meters away in Largo di Torre Argentina by four individuals who kicked him and repeated the same slogan. Dahan identified one of the attackers as the same man who had pepper-sprayed him the day before.

The Carabinieri police arrested a 31-year-old Algerian homeless man with a criminal record, suspected as the main perpetrator. He faces charges including assault and incitement to racial, ethnic, or religious hatred. Authorities continue investigating and searching for three additional suspects using witness statements and security footage.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the attacks as anti-Semitic and expressed solidarity with Dahan and the Jewish community. Victor Padelon, president of Rome's Jewish community, described the assaults as a "Jewish hunt" in the city streets and called for societal vigilance. Israeli Ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled, emphasized that such attacks threaten freedom for all and equated anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.

This incident is part of a recent rise in anti-Semitic attacks across Europe targeting visibly Jewish individuals, often accompanied by pro-Palestinian slogans. Despite the assaults, Dahan stated he intends to return to Rome but will exercise greater caution during his visits.