Lucio Malan
Lucio Malan (dob 30 July 1960) is an Italian politician. From 1998 to 2002 he was the director of communications of Forza Italia.
Israel Advocacy
Malan is a vocal supporter of Israel and is the current Italian Caucus Chair of the the Israel Allies Foundation. In October 2011 travelled to Israel to receive the fourth annual All Nations Convocation Government Leadership Award 'recognizing his commitment to defending the State of Israel'. He was presented with the award in the Israeli Knesset in a ceremony coordinated by the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus - an affiliate of the Israel Allies Foundation.[1]
In an interview conducted during his visit Malan commented on increasing European opposition to Israel's actions in the Middle East:
- Firstly there is a prejudice which has very ancient roots... There is also widespread ignorance of the situation in the Middle East and a desire to appease Islamic immigrants on behalf of politicians who don’t want to alienate this section of the electorate by showing support for Israel. The propaganda of much of the media that reports the situation in Israel in a very biased manner also contributes to this hostility.[1]
Malan also accused the Palestinians of being at fault for the failure to end the Israel-Palestine conflict:
- Too many times they were given territories and concessions and weren’t willing to stop the attacks, for instance from Gaza and so on. It appears too often that what they really want is the whole territory west of the Jordan. So it is understandable that some people wouldn’t want to negotiate on such a basis.[1]
Malan was reportedly involved in the Italian government's opposition to UN recognition of Palestinian statehood, and was engaged in efforts to make sure that Italy would boycott the Durban III Conference on racism. Regarding the conference he remarked:
- Italy boycotted this third shameful show of racism, which disguised itself under the label of anti-racism. It is a shame that with all the real racism and real oppression that is taking place in the world there is time to blame Israel, and this shows that the UN cannot be relied upon to defend its own charter and the universal declaration of human rights.[1]
Following his receipt of the award at the Knesset Malan attended a dinner at the King David Hotel. Other attendees included members of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus including Shai Hermesh, Ayoub Kara, Robert Ilatov and Yoel Hasson.[1]
On June 2011, in collaboration with Christians for Israel Italy and the European Coalition for Israel Malan organised a symposium on the them of: 'Israel, Palestine and the “Arab Spring” – Geo-political aspects in the changing Middle East.'
The conference was held in order to foster pro-Israel European opinion in the run up to the UN General Assembly vote on Palestinian statehood in September of that year. Speakers at the event included Dr. Edda Fogarollo, Chairperson of Christians for Israel Italy, Tomas Sandell, Director and founder of the European Coalition for Israel, international lawyer Dr. Jacques Gauthier, Italian Senator and academic Luigi Campagna, Dr. Mordechai Kedar, Research Associate at the Center for the Study of the Middle East and Islam, at Bar-Ilan University, Former president of the Italian Senate, Marcello Pera, MEP Magdi Cristiano Allam, Executive Director of Christians for Israel International, Andrew Tucker and Malan himself.[2]
Malan called on all attendees to sign an open letter first signed by Marcello Pera calling on the UN Secretary General and all leaders of the UN member states to reject recognition of Palestine at the UN General Assembly and instead called for direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.[2]
Iran
Malan is a vocal supporter of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. One of the affiliates of the NCRI is the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) a terrorist organisation that seeks to overthrow Iran's system of governance. In a 2012 Malan called on Western governments to support the NCRI and the MEK:
- there are few who realize or recognize how instrumental has been the role of MEK and Iranian resistance wider coalition of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in getting information about Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Not only they have not been praised for what they have done, but instead they have been subject to many obstructions. The time has come for international community to correct its mistakes by recognizing the NCRI as a democratic alternative to the clerical regime and by actively defending the lives and rights of the residents of Ashraf and Liberty against the aggressions of the Iranian regime and its Iraqi lackey.[3]
Affiliations
- Israel Allies Foundation - Italian Caucus Chair
Contact
Website: http://www.luciomalan.it/
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jeremy Sharon ‘Italian senator sings Israel’s praises', Jerusalem Post, 5 October 2011, accessed 7 May 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Why Israel? Website Christians for Israel Italy and ECI organize historical meeting in the Senate Building in Rome editor Friday 8 July 2011. Accessed 7 May 2015.
- ↑ National Council of Resistance of Iran Website Senator Lucio Malan - Protecting Lives and Rights of People in Ashraf and Liberty. Accessed 7 May 2015.
