PCdoB wants to withdraw PL that punishes criticism of the State of Israel

The Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) expressed formal opposition to Bill No. 1424/2026, authored by congresswoman Tábata Amaral (PSB-SP), in a note released this Wednesday (8). According to the party, the proposal, presented under the pretext of combating anti-Semitism, aims to criminalize criticism and condemnation of actions promoted by the State of Israel.

The PCdoB argues that the PL intends to incorporate into the Brazilian legal system the definition of anti-Semitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), used, in the party’s assessment, to “shield” Israel. The note highlights that racism against Jews is already typified in Law 7,716/1989 and that the new rule would generate “legal ambiguity” by purposely equating political criticism with ethnic-religious prejudice.

Mobilization for withdrawal

The national leadership of the PCdoB calls on militants, social movements and progressive forces to act to withdraw the project, in defense of freedom of expression and a foreign policy based on the self-determination of people. “No to the criminalization of international solidarity”, states the note.

Full PCdoB note

Note from PCdoB | For the withdrawal of PL 1424/2026
PCdoB National Executive Committee Date: 04/08/2026

The Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) expresses its firm opposition to Bill No. 1424/2026, authored by the Federal Deputy for the PSB of São Paulo, Tábata Amaral.

Under the pretext of combating anti-Semitism, the project aims to criminalize criticism and condemnation of actions promoted by the State of Israel. The proposal meets the determination of Zionism – an ultra-nationalist, racist and colonial political and ideological current – ​​to create a silencing mechanism against those who denounce crimes and horrors such as the genocide against the Palestinian people.

The project aims to establish within the Brazilian legal system a definition of anti-Semitism based on the parameters of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which uses the concept to shield the State of Israel. As FEPAL points out, the Semites are not attributed a “race”, but rather the definition of a group of peoples with common linguistic and historical affinities (Arabs, Hebrews, Aramaics). Historically, throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, anti-Semitism was mainly characterized as specific racism aimed at Jews and which led to the practice of the Nazi holocaust in the 20th century. This form of racism is already criminalized in Brazil through law 7716 of 1989, which defines crimes resulting from prejudice based on race, color, ethnicity, religion or national origin.

Faced with the proposal for a new law, which creates legal ambiguity by purposely confusing criticism of the State of Israel with anti-Semitic practices, the PCdoB, which has always opposed anti-Semitism, argues that its fight must go hand in hand with denouncing and confronting all forms of racism and prejudices such as Islamophobia, xenophobia and others.

The fair fight against anti-Semitism cannot be used as a tool to restrict the right to criticism, free expression and demonstration and solidarity between peoples. Therefore, bills like this and unilateral government events that use the same method of covering up Zionist practices, such as those of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, with the veil of condemnation of anti-Semitism must be denounced and combated.

We call on activists, social movements and progressive forces to mobilize for the withdrawal of PL 1424/2026, in defense of freedom of expression, international solidarity and a foreign policy based on the self-determination of peoples and the promotion of peace.

No to the criminalization of international solidarity! No to PL 1424/2026!

São Paulo, April 8, 2026

The National Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB)