Burak Bir
03 October 2026•Update: 03 October 2026
UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine said on Friday that she hopes Italians will oppose a new highly contested antisemitism legislation in Italy.
"Why on earth should Israeli culture be taught in Italy??" Francesca Albanese wrote on US social media platform X, referring to the antisemitism bill which is under consideration in parliament.
She said it is "part of the Israelization of society that the elite in government (and part of that in the opposition) advocates for."
"I hope the Italian people oppose this announced shame. History is us," Albanese added.
The bill, known as DDL 1004, was introduced by the far-right League party, a junior partner in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition government.
It would use the criteria adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) to define antisemitism. After passing the Senate in March, it is before the Chamber of Deputies for final approval.
Hundreds rallied in Milan on Thursday against the bill, holding signs such as "No to the antisemitism bill," "Criticizing Israel is not antisemitism" and "Protest is a right" while chanting "Free Palestine."
