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

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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