ANPI protests anti-antisemitism bill, Gasparri calls accusations misleading

The Associazione Nazionale Partigiani Italiani declared its intention to take part in a sit-in in front of Montecitorio, protesting the anti-antisemitism draft law that has cleared the Senate and now awaits a vote in the Chamber of Deputies. ANPI, which identifies with antifascist values, contends that the proposal could severely infringe on political, cultural and academic liberties, especially by restricting critical views of Israel and its policies toward the Palestinian people.

The group also warned that the bill might align the association with entities hostile to Israel, such as Potere al Popolo. Maurizio Gasparri, president of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, countered that the accusations are “absolutely false,” stressing that the law is based on the IHRA definition and explicitly protects legitimate criticism of the Israeli state. He noted that the legislation has received support from members across the political spectrum, including several left-wing deputies, and that rejecting it would downplay the current wave of antisemitism in Italy.