New questions about Israel and Judaism will be added to Germany's citizenship test, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has said. With this action, Germany hopes to emphasise its historical obligations to the Jewish people and the state of Israel. Speaking in an interview for Spiegel Online, Minister Faeser emphasised that the country has a responsibility to these groups of people in light of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. She further said that everyone who wants to obtain German citizenship needs to acknowledge these responsibilities. The German citizenship test consists of 33 questions. The questions that will be added will specifically address Jewish history, Israel, and the relationship of Germany with the Jewish state. According to I Am Expat Germany, as revealed by Minister Faeser, the questions that will soon be added to the citizenship test are as follows:

1. How many years ago did the first Jewish people live in what is now Germany?
2. What is a Jewish centre of worship called?
3. What do stumbling stones (Stolpersteine) commemorate?
4. What is an example of antisemitic behaviour?
5. What is a possible punishment for Holocaust denial in Germany?
6. In which year was the state of Israel founded?
7. On what legal basis was the state of Israel founded?
8. Which country do the majority of Jews who currently live in Germany come from?
9. In which German cities do the largest Jewish communities live?
10. Who can join a Jewish Maccabi sports club?
11. What are the reasons that Germany has a special responsibility for Israel?
12. What statements to Israel are forbidden in Germany?

The other questions are about German politics, culture, and history, and three questions are specifically related to the state of residence of applicants. To pass the German citizenship test, those taking the test need to answer correctly at least 17 questions.

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New Questions Follow Saxony-Anhalt’s Declaration Requirement on Israel

The announcement of Faeser on the new citizenship questions that will be included in the citizenship test follows the decision of Saxony-Anhalt to include a declaration requirement on the recognition of “Israel’s right to exist”. Back in December, the German state said that all local authorities have been instructed to to deny citizenship to anyone who refuses to sign the declaration. In addition, all authorities of the federal state have been told to pay close attention to people who might express antisemitic attitudes. This has stirred controversy, with legal professionals questioning the legality of such a requirement and suggesting that it lacks a legal basis.