WARSAW, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Polish President Andrzej Duda Tuesday decided to sign an anti-defamation bill into law, which will tighten the penalties for the use of the historically inaccurate term "Polish death camps".
But the law still need the verification by the Constitutional Court, in order to ensure its compatibility with the constitution.
During a televised address, Duda justified his decision by emphasizing that "we need to protect a good name of Polish people and Poland both".
Duda also referred to some concerns that have occurred in Israel and in the United States recently, saying these concerns suggest that the new bill may lead to deny or to distort the historical truth. But the Polish president said there is no such risk.
Israeli foreign ministry has responded shortly after Duda's announcement on Twitter that Israel continues to get across with Polish authorities and has articulated its reservations towards the amendment. The ministry said it expected changes into the bill.
Israeli Ambassador to Poland Anna Azari also expressed reservations towards the anti-defamation bill, saying Israel saw the new regulations as a threat to freely speaking the truth about the Holocaust.
The anti-defamation bill has been being discussed since Jan. 26 2018 when Sejm (lower house of Polish parliament) passed the bill.
