https://www.france24.com/en/20190220-fr ... sm-illegal
A group of French lawmakers proposed a bill on Monday that would make anti-Zionism a criminal offence in the same way that anti-Semitism is illegal in France. But many argue that opposition to Israel is not comparable to anti-Semitism.
Sylvain Maillard, one of the French lawmakers behind the proposal to criminalise anti-Zionism, has rejected accusations that his bill conflates the two issues.
“You can criticise the Israeli government, but not question the state’s right to exist,” he said.“No one is questioning the France or Germany’s right to exist.”
“We know that [French comic] Dieudonné and [French far-right author] Alain Soral, both of whom have been convicted for inciting hatred against Jews, have adopted the habit of substituting the word ‘Zionist’ for ‘Jew’ and ‘anti-Zionist’ for ‘anti-Semite’ to avoid legal troubles,” Vidal said.
https://www.france24.com/en/20190220-ma ... ti-zionism
France will additionally take steps to define "anti-Zionism as a modern-day form of anti-Semitism", Macron told the French Jewish groups gathered on Wednesday. The definition is in line with that advocated by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, Macron said.
Would you support such a law?
I have mixed feelings on this as outlawing anti-zionism could go a long way to stamping out anti-semitism by removing the loophole of racists using anti-zionist movements as a safe harbour. However it's also a blunt tool as depending on how the bill is worded it could end up criminalising honest, non-racist criticism of Israel; effectively introducing a 'crime of opinion'.
For example, would protesting against illegal settlements be criminalised or would you have to specifically deny Israel's right to exist? Also would anti-zionist jews be anti-semitic?
In short, it seems well-meaning but difficult to enforce without becoming draconian.
