Israel Matzav

And to think his mother was a righteous gentile

In a post that most of you probably read in the wee hours of Thursday morning (you do all stay up 24/6 to read my blog, don't you?), I was very critical of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's comparison of the 'Palestinians' plight with that of Jews in the Holocaust.

The Boston Globe adds another piece to that story in Thursday's editions (Hat Tip: Jeff Jacoby via Twitter).

Before Berlusconi spoke, Netanyahu hailed him "as a courageous leader who always stands by Israel's side."

He concluded a speech filled with praise for Berlusconi with a story of a heavily pregnant Italian woman who confronted a German officer during World War II and, at great peril to her own life, persuaded him to let an arrested Jewish woman go.

This woman's actions "saved the life of the Jewish woman and cast, if only for a brief moment, a scintilla of humanity and courage upon the great darkness that enveloped the whole of Europe at that time," Netanyahu said.

"That courageous woman's name was Rosa. And one of her children is called Silvio Berlusconi."

The two men embraced, and the Italian leader took out a white handkerchief to wipe tears from his eyes.

Wednesday marked the second anniversary of Rosa Bossi Berlusconi's death.

Berlusconi's mother would not have been pleased by what he said on Wednesday. Not pleased at all.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:16 PM