Germany moves to criminalise denial of Israel’s existence while refusing to recognise Palestine

Germany moves to criminalise denial of Israel’s existence while refusing to recognise Palestine Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Sat, 07/11/2026 - 23:33 The proposed law could jail people for five years despite warnings that it violates freedom of expression German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (R) and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar address a press conference at the Foreign Office in Berlin on May 5, 2026. (Ralf Hirschberger/AFP) Off Germany’s upper house of parliament has backed a law that could imprison people for denying Israel’s right to exist, even as Berlin refuses to recognise a Palestinian state and intensifies its crackdown on pro-Palestine activism. The Bundesrat approved the proposal, submitted by the state of Hesse, on Friday.