CNN
Germany demands new citizens accept Israel’s right to exist
Sophie Tanno
June 27, 2024

People applying for naturalization in Germany will now be required to affirm Israel’s right to exist, under changes to the country’s citizenship law. The legislation, which came into effect Thursday, is part of a larger citizenship overhaul from Berlin as the government grapples with rising antisemitism, a surge in popularity for the far right, and fierce debate over its response to Israel’s war in Gaza. The country’s naturalization exam will now include a number of new questions, according to a statement from the interior ministry…But other voices in the country have accused authorities of going too far, infringing on the rights of pro-Palestinians to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Adding to the complex picture, Germany has the largest Palestinian diaspora in Europe, which is estimated at 300,000. READ MORE