The Latest: Polish president to sign Holocaust bill

WARSAW, Poland – The Latest on Poland's proposed legislation to limit Holocaust speech (all times local):

12 noon

Poland's president says he will sign into law a controversial proposal to outlaw blaming Poland for crimes committed during the Holocaust.

But in an unusual move, President Andrzej Duda also said Tuesday he will ask the country's constitutional court to evaluate the bill and suggest possible amendments.

The measure, passed by Polish lawmakers, will impose prison terms of up to three years for statements blaming Poles as a nation for World War II crimes committed by Nazi Germany.

It has caused a diplomatic crisis with Israel, which fears it will enable Poland to whitewash the role of Poles who killed or denounced Jews to Germans during the German occupation of Poland during World War II. The United States also strongly opposes the legislation, saying it could hurt Poland's strategic relations with Israel and the U.S.

___

9:40 a.m.

The office of Polish President Andrzej Duda says the leader will on Tuesday announce his decision on whether to sign legislation penalizing certain statements about the Holocaust.

The legislation proposed by Poland's conservative ruling party has sparked a bitter dispute with Israel, which says it will infringe on free speech about the Holocaust. The United States also strongly opposes the legislation, saying it could hurt Poland's strategic relations with Israel and the U.S.

The bill penalizes blaming Poles as a nation for crimes committed by Nazi Germany during World War II. It needs Duda's signature to become law. He has spoken in its favor.

Duda can also choose to send the bill back to parliament or seek an opinion on it from the Constitutional Tribunal.