Germany has changed some of the conditions necessary for obtaining citizenship. Since Thursday, June 27, naturalization applications have included questions related to anti-Semitism and the existence of Israel as a state.
Faced with a rise in anti-Semitic acts, Germany is revising its rules around naturalization. Since Thursday, candidates for citizenship have been confronted during their examination with questions integrating “the themes of anti-Semitism, the right of the State of Israel to exist and Jewish life in Germany”, as explained a text from the Ministry of the Interior cited by CNN.
In Germany, the government’s strong support for Tel Aviv since the deadly Hamas attack on October 7 has been affirmed, but has nevertheless created numerous debates, particularly with regard to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
As the American media outlet notes, voices have been raised in recent months in Germany, accusing the chancellery of unreservedly supporting Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to the detriment of freedom of expression for pro-Palestinians.
A “red line”
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser welcomed Thursday’s changes, calling them “a commitment to a modern Germany” as the country continues to grapple with its actions during World War II.
“Anyone who shares our values and makes an effort can now obtain a German passport more quickly and does not have to give up part of their identity with the old citizenship,” she continued.
“We have also made it clear: anyone who does not share our values will not be able to obtain a German passport. Here (with these changes, editor’s note) we have drawn a very clear red line and made the law much stricter than before,” she added.
Sharp increase in anti-Semitic acts
At the same time, the number of anti-Semitic acts in Germany increased by more than 80% last year, particularly since Hamas’s attack on Israel, according to a report published Tuesday.
A total of 4,782 anti-Semitic incidents were recorded in 2023, two thirds of which were recorded after October 7, according to the latest report from the Federal Association of Research and Information Centers on Anti-Semitism (RIAS), which is a reference on the subject on the other side of the Rhine.
France is also facing an outbreak of reported acts, an increase of 300% over the first three months of 2024, with 366 acts reported according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior.
