A new bill to fight anti-Semitism in France is causing heated debate and a wave of public protest.
The text was put forward by Caroline Yadan, a centre-right deputy from the Ensemble pour la République (EPR) group, who represents French people living abroad, including in Israel.
It passed the parliamentary committee stage on January 20, with 18 votes in favour and 14 against. The full vote in the National Assembly is now set for April 16 and 17.
The bill aims to update France’s 1881 Press Freedom Law, the main legal tool used against anti-Semitism since it was strengthened in 1972 and 1990.
Supporters say it is needed because of the sharp rise in anti-Semitic acts since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. They argue that anti-Jewish hatred today is often linked to an intense hostility towards Israel, especially in schools, universities and on the internet.
The bill has faced strong backlash. A petition started by Alexandre Balasse, a 26-year-old agronomy engineer, has gathered more than 500,000 signatures on the official National Assembly website. This crosses the threshold needed to open a possible debate in parliament and reflects deep public worry that the law could limit free speech.
The most controversial part is Article 2. It would make it a crime to call publicly for the destruction of any state recognised by France, while ignoring the right of peoples to self-determination.
Israel is not named directly but many people fear this would stop legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy. Other articles would punish even indirect support for terrorist acts, would let anti-racism groups join court cases more easily and strengthen rules against denying crimes against humanity, especially the Shoah. That was the mass murder of Jewish people under the German Nazi regime during the period 1941–5, the Holocaust.
Left-wing parties have strongly criticised the text. La France Insoumise (LFI) says the government is using the fight against anti-Semitism as an excuse to silence people who criticise Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies.
Immense victoire !
Déjà 500 000 signatures pour la pétition contre la loi Yadan ce qui en fait la 2ème pétition la plus signée de l’histoire de notre Assemblée.
Le débat est de droit dans l’hémicycle. La loi Yadan doit donc être retirée de l’ordre du jour.
Continuons la… pic.twitter.com/yfvm739SOE
— Mathilde Panot (@MathildePanot) April 7, 2026
The Greens reject the bill completely, while Socialist MPs are split, with many now planning to vote against it.
Opponents argue the law mixes up anti-Semitism with anti-Zionism, even though many Jewish people openly disagree with Israeli actions. They also say it could support Israel’s policies in the Palestinian territories.
Still, the bill has solid backing. It is supported by the centre-right majority, the Liberties, Independents, Overseas and Territories (LIOT) group, the National Rally (RN) and the The Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR) — seven out of the 11 parliamentary groups.
Jewish organisations such as the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) and the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) also back it.
RN leader Marine Le Pen has called for caution, saying the law should not block open debate about a foreign government’s actions.
As the vote approaches, the “Yadan Law” has become a flashpoint in France. The huge petition highlights deep divisions over how to combat rising anti-Semitism without restricting democratic freedoms.
