Dispute over definition of antisemitism splits Italy and alarms the Jewish community

The Italian parliament is preparing to vote on enshrining the IHRA definition of antisemitism into law. The bill has sparked sharp divisions in the left-wing camp: the Democratic Party opposes it, fearing restrictions on free speech and criticism of Israel. The Jewish community is alarmed by the rise in antisemitism.

The Italian parliament is preparing to vote on a bill that would enshrine the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into law. This move has triggered a political crisis, splitting the left-wing camp. The main opposition party, the Democratic Party (PD), is likely to vote against it, fearing the law would limit free speech and the ability to criticize Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Within the party itself, there is a split: its Jewish representative, Emanuele Fiano, the son of an Auschwitz survivor, disagrees with the party's position. Holocaust survivor and life senator Liliana Segre supported the law, stating that the IHRA definition does not prohibit criticism of Israel. Against this backdrop, the Italian Jewish community is growing increasingly anxious due to a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, with at least 963 cases recorded in 2025. Opponents of the law, including the left-wing Green and Left Alliance and the Five Star Movement, fear it will harm pro-Palestinian activism and conflate the concepts of 'Jews' and 'the State of Israel'.