French and Italian lawmakers are set to vote on new laws defining antisemitism due to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents, but critics argue these laws could suppress criticism of Israel and stifle protest movements. The French law, to be debated on Thursday, seeks to penalize acts that implicitly justify terrorism, advocate for the destruction of a state recognized by France, or liken Israel to the Nazis. Meanwhile, the Italian bill aims to be the first to formally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which categorizes certain criticisms of Israel as antisemitic.
Supporters of the laws cite the notable increase in antisemitism after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel, claiming it poses a threat to Jewish communities. However, critics, including rights groups and left-wing politicians, argue these measures will stifle legitimate advocacy for Palestinian rights and incorrectly associate Jews with the Israeli state. U. N. special rapporteur on free speech, Irene Khan, highlighted that the IHRA definition blurs the lines between permissible criticism of Israel and prohibitive antisemitism, pointing out vague language in the French law.
The Italian bill was recently approved by a significant majority in the Upper House and will begin consideration in the Lower House. In France, the proposed law has lost support following a petition signed by over 700,000 individuals. Antisemitic incidents in Italy reportedly doubled from 2023 to 2025, reaching 963, while France saw a record spike in antisemitism following the 2023 Hamas attack before a 16% decrease to 1,320 incidents in the subsequent year.
The CNCDH, France’s human rights commission, expressed concern about the conflation of antisemitism and hatred toward Israel, stating that antisemitic acts often correlate with Israeli military operations in Palestinian territories. Caroline Yadan, the French MP behind the law, asserted that her aim is to combat “new forms of antisemitism. ” Global protests for Palestinian rights, sparked by the war in Gaza, have been accused of antisemitism by Israel and its supporters, although many protesters assert their actions are distinct from antisemitic sentiments. The IHRA definition has been adopted in 45 countries as a guideline, though it has not been incorporated into law until now, raising additional concerns related to free expression.
with information from Reuters
