WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Polish lawmakers are debating a new version of a Holocaust speech law that would remove criminal provisions for statements deemed harmful to Poland's good name.

A version of the law passed earlier this year called for prison terms of up to three years for falsely accusing the Polish nation of Holocaust crimes that were committed by Nazi Germany.

It sparked a major diplomatic crisis with Israel, where many felt it was an attempt to whitewash Poland's history of violence against Jews during World War II. The United States warned it threatened academic freedom and that it would harm Poland's "strategic position."

The new draft bill was presented to parliament by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and represents a defeat for the nationalist government.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.