German Parliament Criminalizes Denial of Israel's Right to Exist with Prison Penalties

The German Bundestag passed groundbreaking legislation on Friday criminalizing calls for the destruction of Israel or denial of its right to exist. Violators of the new law face up to five years in prison. This legislation expands Section 130 of the German Penal Code, which addresses hate speech, to explicitly include denial of Israel's existence or calls for its annihilation.

The bill will now proceed to the Bundestag's lower house for final approval. Over recent years, the Israeli embassy in Berlin and consulate in Munich have worked closely with German political and social institutions to close legal gaps in combating antisemitism. This effort has led to landmark parliamentary decisions targeting antisemitism, including protections for Jewish life in Germany and measures against anti-Israel hostility in academia and schools.

This new law makes Germany the first European country to threaten criminal penalties for denying Israel's right to exist. The decision passed with a significant majority despite opposition from anti-Israel factions. The driving force behind the legislation was Boris Rhein, Prime Minister of the German state of Hesse and a close ally of Israel from the ruling CDU party.

Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor praised the decision, stating that the German parliament has drawn a clear red line declaring denial of Israel's existence illegal. He highlighted a surge in antisemitism since October 7, particularly from the political left, aimed at delegitimizing the Jewish state. Prosor emphasized that combating antisemitism requires action beyond statements, extending from classrooms and universities to cultural venues and public demonstrations.

The legislation responds to a sharp rise in antisemitic violence across Germany since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7. This includes numerous physical attacks fueled by intense anti-Israel incitement in cultural, academic, media, and political spheres, following nearly three years of severe protests against Israel that often included calls to deny Israel's existence and reject Zionism entirely.