Nathan Graff was quoted Saturday by the Italian daily La Repubblica, saying he believes the attacker "had just one goal: to kill an Orthodox Jew, to strike at our community here in Milan and scare us."
Graff, 40, was attacked with a knife from behind near a kosher pizzeria in Milan, suffering multiple wounds to his back, face and arm. Graff is bearded and wore a yarmulke at the time.
The news agency ANSA quoted the Israeli ambassador to Italy, Naor Gilon, as saying it was an anti-Semitic act.