On October 2, 2026, the Italian Chamber of Deputies placed the bill that sets out measures to counter antisemitism and adopt the working definition of antisemitism on its agenda. The bill was approved by the Senate in March and is expected to be debated and voted on in the coming days. Ahead of the discussion, the president of the Union of Jewish Communities (UCEI) Livia Ottolenghi appealed to all members of Parliament, calling the bill “a necessary step, a democratic antidote to prejudice and hatred” and stressing that “for this reason, it should be approved.”
Ottolenghi said the bill “defends democratic values and counters antisemitic hatred” and should “not be assessed according to political affiliation, but on the basis of its content.”
She added that the legislation “upholds a democratic principle and protects fundamental rights — elements that make it a cross-party issue.”
Ottolenghi also emphasized that the bill “does not introduce criminal provisions, but only sets out policy guidelines aimed at safeguarding the democratic values of the Italian Republic.”