Reggio Emilia mayor apologizes after Jewish educators cancel trip over political declaration demand
The mayor of Reggio Emilia, Italy, issued an apology after U.S. Jewish educators canceled a study trip following a dispute over a required political declaration. The city’s education organization had circulated a statement asking visitors to distance themselves from Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. While the mayor initially defended the document as an open discussion point, he later acknowledged the error and expressed regret for making participants feel unwelcome. The incident has sparked accusations of antisemitism and a political rift in Italy, though the mayor maintains the city’s criticism of Israel’s government is separate from any bias against Jewish people.
