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In a unique move aimed at strengthening formal recognition of Israel within Germany, the state of Saxony-Anhalt introduced a policy in late 2023 that requires foreigners seeking German citizenship to acknowledge the existence of Israel and its right to exist.
This requirement was confirmed by the Interior Ministry in Magdeburg, with at least one case leading to the initiation of a procedure for the withdrawal of German citizenship. Ten applications for naturalization in Saxony-Anhalt were rejected in August 2025 due to the applicants' refusal to acknowledge the existence of Israel.
The written declaration, recommended by Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang in a circular issued in November 2023, requires applicants to condemn any anti-Semitic endeavors as well. The Halle police are currently investigating a dispute at the annual exhibition of Burg Giebichenstein for potential anti-Semitism.
The RIAS federal association, however, does not see a downward trend in anti-Semitic crimes in Saxony-Anhalt. The number of anti-Semitic crimes in the state is reportedly decreasing, according to the State Criminal Police Office.
The art school Burg Giebichenstein has distanced itself from anti-Semitism allegations, but there is renewed criticism. Meanwhile, the "Salam" prevention center in Halle denies being portrayed as an anti-Semite.
On October 7, a memorial event and a peace prayer were held in Halle to commemorate the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. The number of naturalizations in Saxony-Anhalt has been increasing steadily every year for the past four years, with 2,813 people granted German citizenship in 2024, making it the state with the highest number of naturalizations since 1999.
Interestingly, a survey by the Protestant Press Service found that the majority of federal states do not consider it necessary to demand this written declaration as a standard requirement. Saxony-Anhalt is likely to remain the only federal state that requires such a written declaration for the time being.
The citizenship application process in Magdeburg is now only available online, with the intention of reducing processing time. The article was written by Daniel George for our website and was published on August 2, 2025, at 14:00 on the website SACHSEN-ANHALT - My Radio. My Home.
This policy appears aligned with wider geopolitical developments, such as efforts to normalize relations with Israel via accords like the Abraham Accords, reflecting Germany's and other states' commitment to Israel’s legitimacy. While the exact legal or historical rationale from Saxony-Anhalt’s perspective is not detailed in the search results, it likely relates to Germany's post-World War II political framework and its commitment to support Israel’s existence as a democratic state amid regional conflicts.
The policy in Saxony-Anhalt, requiring foreigners seeking German citizenship to acknowledge the existence of Israel and its right to exist, falls under the category of policy-and-legislation, indicative of political decisions. This policy can be linked to the general-news topic, as it represents a unique move in Germany's politics, reflecting broader geopolitical developments.
The discourse around this policy, including debates about anti-Semitism and the rejection of citizenship applications, can be categorized as part of the general-news and politics. Additionally, the policy's potential connection to Germany's post-World War II political framework and its commitment to Israel’s existence as a democratic state amid regional conflicts is also a matter of policy-and-legislation and general-news interest.
