JLE brings global leaders to Rome for landmark gala
'It is a mistake to recognise Palestine until Hamas is destroyed': Italian deputy PM tells guests at international event
The Jewish Learning Exchange hosted its landmark destination gala in Rome this past week; a two-day international event culminating in a black-tie fundraising dinner at the historic Palazzo Brancaccio, Italy’s last royal palace.
The gala drew global leaders, philanthropists, and dignitaries, including Sir Martin Sorrell, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
Addressing guests, Italian deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said: “It is a mistake to recognise Palestine until Hamas is destroyed.”
Salvini’s statement made waves in Italian political circles and in the national press, and were seen in Israel as a powerful demonstration of solidarity from Italy’s leadership. Unlike a number of Western countries, Italy has not recognised a Palestinian state in recent weeks.
During the evening, Ambassador David Friedman was presented with a symbolic B-2 bomber award, recognising him as a “Defender of the Jewish People.”
JLE chief executive Rabbi Benjy Morgan said: “This gala was not only about honouring leaders but about charting the course for the Jewish future. In a world forever changed after 7 October, the Jewish people need strength, vision, and belonging.”
The event raised significant funds towards the organisation’s annual £3.8 million budget, which supports programmes servicing the next generation of the Jewish community in the UK.
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