The leader of Italy’s right-wing National Alliance Party and Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini, is expected to arrive in Israel on Sunday evening on a historic visit.
The National Alliance Party is formerly post-fascist, affiliated with Italian wartime dictator Benito Mussolini.
This will be the first time Israel is officially greeting a leader of the National Alliance Party in Israel.
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Fini is notorious for his pro-fascist comments in the past, including praising Mussolini as the greatest politician of the 20th century, a remark he has since retracted, according to the Israeli Hebrew-language daily Haaretz.
Analysts say Fini is trying to legitimize his party, release it of its fascist image and render it a mainstream party, paving the way for his running for prime minister in Italy’s next elections.
Israel was not quick to accept Fini’s visit. It has been closely monitoring his actions for eight years, Haaretz reported.
Several factors were considered in agreeing to the controversial politician’s visit, including Fini’s recent pro-Israeli positions, his objection to anti-Semitism, his recognition by other countries such as the U.S. and an increasing thaw between Fini and Italy’s Jewish community.
During the four-day trip Fini will be visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. He will also be meeting with Israeli parliamentarians and Italian expatriates.