German state says citizenship applicants must declare Israel’s right to exist

The state of Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany announced on Wednesday that residents who apply for citizenship will be required to declare in writing that they believe in Israel's right to exist, according to a report in Haaretz.

The country's Ministry of Interior issued an order whereby people applying for citizenship who do not declare support for Israel will not be able to become naturalised. The content of the order was published by the German news agency DPA.

Saxony-Anhalt's interior minister, Tamara Zieschang, wrote to the ministries which handle the naturalisation process to explain that each candidate will have to confirm in writing that they "recognise Israel's right to exist and condemn any effort directed against the existence of the State of Israel".