France committee advances bill expanding antisemitism laws amid free speech concerns

France’s National Assembly Law Committee narrowly approved a bill on Tuesday that would expand antisemitism laws to include certain anti-Zionist expressions, Holocaust minimization, and indirect support for terrorism.

The proposal, introduced by Jewish Member of Parliament Caroline Yadan, was adopted with an 18-16 vote and will now be examined by the full lower house. Support came mainly from the governing majority and parts of the right, while left-wing lawmakers opposed the measure.

The bill seeks to broaden existing legislation in three areas: to criminalize implicit praise of antisemitism in addition to explicit approval; equate praise of perpetrators with praise of antisemitic acts; and treat the downplaying or trivializing of terrorism as a form of endorsement.

The bill would also extend Holocaust denial laws to cover what it defines as gross minimization or trivialization of the genocide and explicitly criminalize comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany.

Another provision would create a new offense for publicly calling for the destruction of a state recognized by France, citing violations of the right of peoples to self-determination under the UN Charter. This clause is widely understood to apply to slogans such as “from the river to the sea” when interpreted as denying Israel’s existence.

In the bill’s explanatory memorandum, Yadan said that antisemitism in France is increasingly expressed through hostility toward Israel. “Today, anti-Jewish hatred in our country is fueled by an obsessive hatred of Israel,” she wrote.

Jewish organizations and some pro-Israel groups have welcomed the proposal, arguing that it reflects contemporary manifestations of antisemitism and aligns French law with international frameworks, including those referencing the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) working definition.

Human rights organizations and several left-wing parties have raised concerns about the bill’s scope. They argue that it risks conflating antisemitism with criticism of Israeli government policy and could criminalize ambiguous statements, political slogans, irony, or protest rhetoric.

MP Gabrielle Cathala said the bill “does not make it possible to combat antisemitism,” arguing that it protects Israeli government policy rather than Jewish communities.

The vote comes amid reports of rising antisemitic incidents in France and follows years of political debate in France and Europe over how to define antisemitism and regulate speech related to Israel. The bill has highlighted sharp divisions within the French parliament ahead of its full assembly debate.