Guilt And Responsibility
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Germany Requires Citizenship Applicants to Support Israel
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The Facts
According to a new German citizenship law, people applying for naturalization will be explicitly required to accept Israel's right to exist.
In January, the German parliament passed legislation to overhaul the nation's citizenship rules, including allowing people living in Germany for five years to apply for dual citizenship, down from eight years.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
It's very strange for a nation to require immigrants to pledge allegiance to a foreign country, yet Germany did just that in a bizarre move that shows where Western governments' loyalty really falls. Germany has long felt guilt for the Nazi regime's actions, and it has done all it can to support the Jewish people since then. However, recent overtures to the modern Zionist regime of Israel go far beyond making up for past sins.
Pro-establishment narrative
Germany's new citizenship law provides necessary reforms that ensure all naturalized citizens adhere to German values. For nearly 80 years, Germany has been a friend and staunch defender of the Jewish people and the state of Israel, and the country has no place for people who deny Israel's right to exist. The legacy of the Holocaust remains a painful reminder of the evil antisemitism breeds, and Germany must educate all naturalized citizens about these issues.