Protesters hold a banner that reads: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” standing in front of the president’s palace in Warsaw, Nov. 5, 2023 (Photo: IMAGO/Marek Antoni Iwanczuk via Reuters)
The German government, in recent years, has positioned itself as one of Israel’s strongest supporters in Europe. The German Federal Ministry announced that individuals who call for Israel’s destruction by using expressions, such as “From the river to the sea” will be denied German citizenship, according to the German Ministry of Interior and German news channel NDR.
The phrase is commonly used by anti-Israel activists to suggest that the state of “Palestine” should replace the State of Israel on the territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The German Federal Ministry has noted that “statements such as ‘From the river to the sea’ coincide with an explicit call for violent actions against the State of Israel.”
The new German citizenship law, which was passed in late June, stipulates that “racism, antisemitism or any other form of misanthropy rule out naturalization.” The new law’s clause 10.1.1.1.3.1 specifically addresses Germany’s responsibility towards the Jewish state following the Holocaust, during which six million Jews were killed by the Nazi regime, citing “Germany’s special historical responsibility for the National Socialist injustice and its consequences, especially for the protection of Jewish life.”
Germany has in recent years absorbed a large number of migrants from the Middle East and other Muslim-majority countries, where antisemitism has become a widespread phenomenon. Unlike some other European countries, Germany offers citizenship to individuals who are employed in Germany after five years.
However, the new upgraded citizenship law will prohibit citizenship to individuals who harbor antisemitism or other types of racism. One purpose of the new law is to protect the roughly 100,000 Jewish residents who reside in Germany. The new law also aims to counter calls for the destruction of the Jewish state or claims that Israel and Jews fabricated or exaggerated the Holocaust. In Germany, Holocaust denial is considered a serious crime.
In addition to banning the slogan “From the river to the sea,” the new German law prohibits expressions such as “Palestine will be free,” “Let’s go bomb Tel Aviv,” “Death to Israel,” and “Israel, child murderer.” Furthermore, maps that exclude Israel are also considered violations under the new legislation.
The Federal German Republic is divided into 16 states, each with some autonomy. However, the NDR news outlet noted: “The practice of recent years has shown, however, that the states are guided by the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s application instructions, so that the legal regulations on nationality law are applied uniformly.”
In March, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced changes to its naturalization test. Those changes will include questions about the Holocaust, Israel’s right to exist, and Jewish life in Germany.
She strongly condemned antisemitism in an interview with Der Spiegel.
“Antisemitism, racism, and other forms of contempt for humanity rule out naturalization,” Faeser stated. “Whoever does not share our values, cannot receive a German passport. We have drawn a crystal-clear red line,” she added.
Faeser, who is considered a friend of Israel, emphasized Germany’s historic responsibility to preserve the Jewish state and the Jewish people.
“Germany’s crime against humanity in the Holocaust entails our special responsibility for the protection of Jews and for the protection of the State of Israel.”
“This responsibility is part of our identity today,” she added.
