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German parliament advances bill to criminalize denial of Israel's right to exist

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Germany's parliament has advanced a bill to criminalize the denial of Israel's right to exist, with potential penalties of up to five years in prison.
  • The legislation expands Germany's criminal code beyond Holocaust denial to include existential denial of Israel, citing a rise in antisemitism and the need to uphold Germany's constitutional order.
  • While the bill exempts criticism of Israeli government policies and academic works, it aims to address challenges to Israel's legitimacy that are seen as relativizing the Holocaust.

Germany's parliament is moving forward with legislation that would criminalize the denial of Israel's right to exist, a move that could lead to prison sentences of up to five years.

The message is clear: anyone who denies Israel’s right to exist and spreads antisemitic incitement will not get away with it without consequences.

— Ron ProsorIsrael's ambassador to Germany, commenting on the German parliament's advancement of the bill.

The bill, which has received backing from the Bundesrat, Germany's upper house, will now proceed to the Bundestag, the lower house. Under the proposed law, individuals publicly denying Israel's right to exist or calling for its elimination would face punishment. This effectively expands Germany's criminal code, which already addresses Holocaust denial, to include the existential denial of Israel.

The Bundesrat justified the legislation by pointing to a significant increase in antisemitic incidents in Germany, which rose from 1,957 in 2020 to 8,627 in 2024. The chamber stated that while many Germans protest the war and the suffering of Palestinian civilians, some protests have challenged Israel's legitimacy. The Bundesrat emphasized that Israel's establishment is linked to Germany's responsibility for the Shoah and the necessity of a secure homeland for Jews. Therefore, denying Israel's right to exist is seen as relativizing the Holocaust and disregarding Germany's constitutional order.

My sincere thanks go to Minister-President Boris Rhein for his determined commitment to this landmark legislative initiative, as well as to all the federal states that supported it.

— Ron ProsorIsrael's ambassador to Germany, thanking those involved in the legislative initiative.

The law would apply to public statements and online speech, but only if the act could promote antisemitic violence. Importantly, it does not restrict criticism of Israeli government policies or theoretical debates on Middle East politics. Art and academic works are also exempt under existing protections. Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, welcomed the decision, stating that the message is clear: those who deny Israel's right to exist will face consequences.

I sincerely hope that the German Bundestag takes up the decision and swiftly passes the necessary amendments to the Criminal Code.

— Ron ProsorIsrael's ambassador to Germany, expressing hope for the bill's swift passage.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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