Constitutional experts warn the bill could jeopardize freedom of expression: anyone denying Israel's right to exist or calling for its abolition could be punished by up to five years in prison; Germany's lower house of parliament will examine the bill after the summer recess

Germany’s Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament, backed a bill to criminalize the denial of Israel’s right to exist on Friday, a motion that constitutional experts said could jeopardize freedom of expression.

According to the bill, anyone denying Israel’s right to exist or calling for its abolition would be punished with a prison sentence of up to five years under the regulation. The bill will be examined by the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, after its summer recess.