(Mara Vigevani/TPS) Poland will amend a controversial law that makes it a crime in the country to accuse Poland of having been complicit in Nazi atrocities during World War II. Asking the parliament to change the existing law this week, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the law had not been effective and that he would seek lesser, civil penalties rather than criminal charges.

“The law did not achieve its goal—defend the good name of Poland,” said Morawiecki in a statement.

The Sejm, the lower house of the Polish parliament, ratified Morawiecki’s request following an emotional session, and the measure will now have to be approved by the Senate.

Neither Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is also Israel’s foreign minister, nor President Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin, responded immediately to the motion.