The proposal of a member of the French National Assembly, Caroline Yadan, to criminalise all criticism of Israel has drawn a strong backlash from activists, intellectuals and politicians in France.
They say the bill, which would ban expressions like “from the river to the sea”, constitutes a suppression of free speech.
“Caroline Yadan seeks to suppress the freedom of thought, criticism, and writing, to prevent condemnation of the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza,” poet Jean-Philippe Cazier wrote on his X account. “She wants us all to become partners in this genocide.”
European MP Rima Hassan also responded via her account, saying: “If there is one state that deserves criticism, it is Israel, the state that has violated all United Nations resolutions for decades and commits the most heinous international crimes.”
