Italian Antisemitism Bill Divides Political Landscape
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Italy's parliament to debate bill adopting IHRA definition of antisemitism.
- Bill passed Senate but faces opposition over potential impact on criticism of Israel.
- Democratic Party plans to vote against the bill, causing internal dissent.
- Jewish MP Emanuele Fiano supports criticism of Israel while backing the bill.
- Italian Jewish communities urge adoption, calling it a defense of democratic values.
Italy's parliament is set to debate a bill that would legally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The legislation, which has already passed the Senate, has sparked significant opposition despite the removal of penal provisions from its initial draft. The Senate approved the bill on March 4, 2026, with 105 votes in favor, 24 against, and 21 abstentions. Following its approval by the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies on September 30, the bill entered general debate on October 2. The final vote is anticipated in the first half of October, according to ANSA news agency.
The proposed law aims to incorporate the IHRA definition and its accompanying examples into Italian legislation, while explicitly safeguarding freedom of expression and political criticism. The removal of criminal penalties and restrictions on demonstrations, present in the original version, has not appeased critics. On Thursday, hundreds protested outside Milan's La Scala, arguing the bill could hinder criticism of Israeli policy and pro-Palestinian activism.
The Democratic Party, the main center-left opposition, is expected to vote against the bill and boycotted the committee vote. This stance has caused internal party friction. Emanuele Fiano, a Jewish member of the Democratic Party, criticized the decision, stating that the fight against antisemitism should not be framed as an impediment to criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, the Israeli military, or settler violence, which he deems legitimate and necessary. Fiano pointed out that the bill's first article explicitly guarantees freedom of political expression, addressing censorship concerns.
The Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) has called for the bill's adoption. Its president, Livia Ottolenghi, urged lawmakers to evaluate the bill on its merits rather than political affiliation, describing it as a tool to defend democratic values and fundamental rights. She emphasized that the bill contains no penal measures but provides guidelines to combat antisemitic prejudice and hatred.
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