Individuals who post 'From the River to the Sea' to be denied German citizenship

The use of maps in which the territory of the State of Israel is replaced with the colors of the Palestinian flag is also in contravention of the law.

By MATHILDA HELLER SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 02:11

Pro-Palestinian poster hanging at the Northwestern University campus (photo credit: Northwestern Hillel)

Individuals who posted 'From the River to the Sea' on social media will be denied German citizenship, according to stipulations in the new citizenship law, as cited by German channel NDR (North German Radio and Television) and the Federal Interior Ministry this week.

People who are employed in Germany can work to obtain citizenship after five years, compared to the eight years previously required in the law. While the law came to pass on June 27 of this year, the requirements have been tightened, especially regarding "Racism, antisemitism or any other form of misanthropy rule out naturalization," according to the German Federal Ministry of the Interior.

One of the requirements for citizenship, clause 10.1.1.1.3.1, concerns "Germany’s special historical responsibility for the National Socialist injustice and its consequences, especially for the protection of Jewish life."

This clause stipulated that an individual who contravenes Germany's legal commitment to the protection of Jews may not be eligible for citizenship. 

This clause included denial of the fact or extent of the genocide of the Jews of Europe by Nazi Germany (the Holocaust) and accusing Jews or the State of Israel of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

People hold a banner reading ''Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine Freedom for Palestine'' as they take part in a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, in Berlin, Germany November 18, 2023. (credit: REUTERS)

It also included the following statements, "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."

The use of maps in which the territory of the State of Israel is replaced with the colors of the Palestinian flag was also considered in contravention of the law.

'Incompatible with German law'

The above can be considered grounds for exclusion from citizenship, as, according to NDR, people are considered incompatible with a commitment to the German constitution if they violate Germany's special historical responsibility towards Jewish life.

This stipulation includes liking, sharing, or commenting on such slogans on social networks. 

The Federal Ministry of the Interior said that, when such slogans are uttered, the context in which they are said should 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. 

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While NDR stated that German states have autonomy over naturalization under their authority, a spokesperson explained to the dpa said that "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, it was reported that Germany's citizenship test would now include questions on the Holocaust, Judaism, and Israel to filter out people with antisemitic views, according to a report by Der Spiegel.

“If you don’t share our values, you can’t get a German passport. We have drawn a crystal clear red line here,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told Der Spiegel.

“Antisemitism, racism, and other forms of contempt for humanity preclude naturalization.”

In August, a protester who chanted "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" at a Berlin rally was fined €600 by a German court.