Wishing ‘death to Israel’ will now cost individuals German citizenship: Report

 By WIONNEWS 

Interior Ministry has said that the context of these statements would be taken into account. (Source: Pexels) Photograph:(Others)

                    BNetanyahu 

Germany has introduced changes to its citizenship laws to ensure people with hatred towards Jews and Israel are kept away from naturalisation. German channel NDR (North German Radio and Television) has reported citing the country’s Interior Ministry that under the new law, people posting 'From the River to the Sea' on social media may also be denied citizenship.

'From the River to the Sea'

Amid increased antisemitism across Europe, Germany has introduced clause 10.1.1.1.3.1 in its citizenship law that concerns "Germany’s special historical responsibility for the National Socialist injustice and its consequences, especially for the protection of Jewish life."

The clause states that an individual who doesn’t respect Germany’s stance on providing legal guarantees and security commitment to Jews will not be offered citizenship. It means those denying or disputing the extent of the genocide of the Jews of Europe by Nazi Germany (the Holocaust) will be not offered naturalisation.

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Now, the clause also includes anti-Israel and anti-Jew slogans and phrases, which means any person posting these statements online can be denied German citizenship.

"From the River to the Sea," possibly with the addition "Palestine will be free," "Let's go bomb Tel Aviv," "Death to Israel," and "Israel, child murderer" are some of the statements that have been identified as anti-Jew and anti-Israel under the clause.

Additionally, posting maps online showing Israeli area coloured in the Palestinian flag may also draw similar measures from the government. Not just posting, but liking, reposting and commenting on such slogans may also cost an individual German citizenship.

However, the Interior Ministry has said that the context of these statements would be taken into account.

For example, if "statements such as 'From the River to the Sea' coincide with an explicit call for violent actions against the State of Israel," this should be questioned in a citizenship interview.

Earlier in March, Germany had introduced questions on the Holocaust, Judaism and Israel to filter out people with antisemitic views in its citizenship test.

(With inputs from agencies)

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