The state of Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany will require new citizens to sign a declaration of support for Israel.
Applicants who do not confirm “that they recognize Israel’s right to exist and condemn any efforts directed against the existence of the State of Israel” will have their naturalisation requests denied, DW reported.
A refusal to sign will be noted on the applicant’s file.
Saxony-Anhalt Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang in December said all municipalities in Saxony-Anhalt had been informed of the new policy, and called on the other 15 German states to impose the same requirements on individuals seeking to become naturalised citizens.
The ministry’s decree states that “obtaining German citizenship requires a commitment to Israel’s right to exist”, and authorities in Saxony-Anhalt were also instructed to monitor applicants for anti-Semitic attitudes.
Ms Ziechang is from the centre-right CDU party which holds government in the state in coalition with the centre-left SPD and the centrist FDP, winning 37.12% of the popular vote in 2021, ahead of the next most popular party, the right wing AfD with 20.82%.
The most recent election survey from INSA on behalf of BILD in late October 2023 has the AfD on 33% support, with the CDU in second place with 32%.
