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Italy’s Senate Backs Antisemitism Bill, Keeping IHRA Definition, as PD Splits

A sharp rise in reported antisemitic incidents set the stage for a divisive vote over definitions.

Overview

  • The bill passed 105–24 with 21 abstentions and now moves to the Chamber of Deputies for further review.
  • Center-right parties, Azione and Italia Viva voted in favor; M5S and Avs opposed; most of the PD abstained as six reformist senators backed the measure.
  • The text retains the IHRA definition of antisemitism after efforts by PD, M5S and Avs to replace it with the Jerusalem Declaration were rejected.
  • Earlier amendments removed criminal penalties and protest restrictions, while the bill tasks authorities with a hate‑crime database, public‑service awareness efforts and the removal of online incitement, including AI‑generated content.
  • The Economy Ministry, invoking financial‑neutrality rules, compelled rewrites to monitoring and research provisions and curtailed new spending.