18:25
19:33
Noach - Gen. 6-9/11-32
“No gag, no censorship, no repression. Bill 1004 against antisemitism contains no provisions that curtail freedom, nor does it establish powers to report, penalize, or sanction. One may disagree with a legislative proposal, but distorting the facts is unacceptable—especially when done by media professionals. Characterizing the Bill as an assault on freedom of the press, freedom of opinion, and the right to legitimately criticize any government—including Israel’s—is a clear case of fake news; the organizers of today’s protest against the Bill seek instead to misrepresent its content and intent. Its sole objective—I repeat for the umpteenth time—is to combat antisemitism, manifestations of which (both in real life and on social media) have reached levels unseen since World War II. Labeling the Bill an attack on freedom of the press and the right to criticize—even regarding the Israeli government—is fake news: the text explicitly protects “freedom of political criticism, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly and association.” One need only read it without prejudice to refute the accusations leveled against it. The Bill allows full freedom to legitimately criticize any government, including Israel. It intervenes only when such criticism crosses the line into prejudice against Israel and the Jewish people, or involves the misuse of the Holocaust and Nazi comparisons. Claiming that it undermines the fight against antisemitism is a logical absurdity. It is therefore concerning—and surprising—to see ANPI, ANPPIA, and FNSI join the protest: organizations that ought to have the fight against antisemitism in their DNA, yet appear to have set it aside in order to align with a monolithic mindset that stifles pluralism and…” …to dissent. The aim of the measure is to combat antisemitic acts, nothing else; there is no need for further falsehoods.” So stated Livia Ottolenghi, President of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities.
Press release available
