Hans Rustad Silvio Berlusconi skulle delta på en seremoni på Holocaust-dagen, men ble selv sentrum da han kom med noen høyst upassende uttalelser der han forsøkte å forstå hvorfor Benito Mussolini valgte å alliere seg med Nazi-Tyskland.
Det var av nødvendighet, høyttenkte Berlusconi, og la til at Mussolini gjorde mye godt, men så var det dette med jødene.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, he even defended the fascist dictator’s support of Adolf Hitler, saying Mussolini probably made an alliance with the Nazis because he feared Germany’s potential expansion.
Mr Berlusconi also said that Italy did not have «the same responsibilities» as Germany for what happened because at the beginning of the bilateral relationship Italy «was not completely aware». Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, on Saturday said Germany had an «everlasting responsibility» for the crimes of the Nazis.
«It’s difficult now to put yourself in the shoes of people who were making decisions at that time,» said Mr Berlusconi.
«Obviously the government of that time, out of fear that German power might lead to complete victory, preferred to ally itself with Hitler’s Germany rather than opposing it.
«As part of this alliance, there were impositions, including combating and exterminating Jews. The racial laws were the worst fault of Mussolini as a leader, who in so many other ways did well.»
The Italian Union of Jewish Communities and leaders across the political spectrum immediately condemned Mr Berlusconi’s statement.
«The comments are not only superficial and inappropriate but are designed to leave the impression Italy decided to persecute and exterminate its own Jews to please a powerful ally,» said Renzo Gattegna, the union’s president. «They are without moral awareness or historical foundation.»
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/silvio-berlusconi/9830157/Silvio-Berlusconi-under-fire-for-defending-Benito-Mussolini.html
