The proposed law against "new forms of anti-Semitism" has provoked intense controversy in France

The bill "to combat new forms of anti-Semitism" has sparked intense political and social debate in France. The centrist MP Caroline Yadan (Renaissance) has taken the initiative tothe National Assembly, which will be debated today and tomorrow.

A number of changes are proposed in the text of the Anti-Terrorist Crime, among which the list of attitudes and actions against anti-Semitism has been expanded. It is intended that certain anti-Israeli or anti-Zionist speeches should be considered a crime, such as equating Israel with Nazism or calling for the destruction of the Israeli State. 

Freedom of expression, "hesitant"

The bill, which has aroused a lot of criticism from human rights associations, including academics and politicians, believes it can be a tool to silence entrepreneurship for Palestine and against Israel. According to some UN experts, fundamental rights would be at risk.  

In the same vein, a number of judges have also objected, accusing the text of deliberately linking anti-Semitism with criticism of Israel, which they believe may lead to censorship.

For the time being, the law is not guaranteed enough support to move forward, even in the Macron bloc some people have been suspicious of it.

On the street, tension is rising, thousands of signatures are being collected against the initiative, and students at dozens of universities have been mobilised.