"It is common practice in Italy to also laugh about holocaust stories."

Berlusconi statement according to Der Spiegel 28/2003, p. 96

German Social Democratic MEP Martin Schulz (right) accused Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday, July 2, 2003 in the European Parliament for tailoring the Italian law with the help of the parliament to his personal needs and for an "inhumane immigration policy". Mr. Schulz also condemned Mr. Berlusioni's " political role and his extensive media empire." Mr. Schulz' defamatory attack on the Italian people and the Italian parliamentary system was ironically rebutted by the Italian Prime-Minister as quoted above. Berlusconi has been widely condemned in European media for his remark, which overshadowed the start of Italy's EU presidency this week. European Parliament leaders held an emergency meeting Thursday on the row, but failed to agree on whether to demand that Berlusconi make amends.
Mr. Schulz, who is believed to be Jewish, has never criticized the role of Israeli Prime-Minister, Ariel Sharon, in genocide and crimes against humanity. Mr. Schulz so far neglected to criticize the extensive media power of the Jewish lobbies in the Western world - except Italy (sic!!!). Mr. Schulz supports Israel's policy, denying millions of evicted Palestinians the right to return to their own land. The very same Mr. Schulz supports mass immigration in a multi-million-scale from Asia and Africa into the heavily populated lands of Europe. (NJ, July 4, 2003)