The controversial Holocaust law which aims to defend the country's image abroad was approved yesterday by the Polish Senate
The law, already approved by the Chamber last Friday, now lacks only the signature of the president. The provision sets a maximum sentence of three years in prison for anyone, Polish or foreign, accuses Poland of complicity with Nazi crimes or refers to the Nazi death camps and defines them as Poles.
The Senate approved the measures with 57 votes in favor and 23 against; two abstentions. After the approval of the House, which like the Senate is controlled by the right-wing ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, over the weekend Israel had asked to abandon the bill, considering it an attempt to deny Polish involvement in the Nazi extermination of the Jews.
The law sparked a diplomatic dispute with Israel that led to Netanyahu's statement last Sunday that "We have no tolerance for the distortion of truth and rewriting of history, nor for Holocaust denial."