Yes, France took a notable (though ultimately unsuccessful) parliamentary action against antisemitism as recently as yesterday (April 16, 2026).What HappenedFrench lawmakers, led by centrist MP Caroline Yadan (from President Macron's centrist coalition), had prepared the so-called Yadan bill (or PPL Yadan / Bill 575) for debate in the National Assembly on April 16–17, 2026. The bill aimed to combat what its supporters described as "new forms of antisemitism" that have surged since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and the ensuing Israel-Gaza war. france24.com Key proposed measures included:Expanding the offense of "glorification of terrorism" or "incitement to terrorism" to cover implicit justifications. Creating a new offense for publicly calling for the destruction of a state recognized by France (widely seen as targeting slogans like "From the river to the sea" or explicit calls to eliminate Israel). Penalizing excessive trivialization of terrorist acts or comparisons of Israel to the Nazis. Supporters argued this was necessary to address evolving antisemitic rhetoric that existing laws (which already criminalize direct incitement and Holocaust denial) do not fully cover, amid a documented rise in antisemitic incidents in France.The OutcomeAt the last minute on April 16, 2026, the bill's backers withdrew it before the scheduled debate, as it became clear it lacked sufficient votes to pass. This followed:Massive public opposition, including a petition that gathered over 700,000 signatures. Protests and criticism from left-wing parties, UN human rights experts, academics, and free-speech advocates who warned the bill risked conflating legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies with antisemitism, potentially chilling pro-Palestinian speech and activism. en.wikipedia.org The government has indicated it will introduce a revised or similar bill in late June 2026.Broader ContextThis episode occurs against a backdrop of ongoing high levels of antisemitic acts in France (Europe's largest Jewish community). French authorities continue to enforce existing laws through arrests, investigations, and public condemnations. President Macron has also spoken out strongly against antisemitism and called for measures like mandatory electoral bans for officials guilty of it.In short, France's most recent high-profile action was this attempted legislative push, which was halted yesterday due to lack of support—but the issue remains very much alive, with plans for a follow-up bill soon. The debate highlights deep divisions in France over how to balance fighting hate with protecting free expression.

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