Inger Støjberg, leader of the centre-right Danish Democrats, believes that anyone who wants to become a Danish citizen must recognise the right of the state of Israel to exist.
This requirement does not apply to any other nation – only Israel, because it has a “very special status” historically.
At present, anyone wishing to become a Danish citizen must sign a declaration of allegiance and loyalty to Denmark and Danish society. Støjberg wants those who apply for Danish citizenship in the future to be denied citizenship if they do not recognise Israel’s “right to exist”.
Moreover, not only those who explicitly deny Israel’s “right to exist” should be denied citizenship – but also those who utter pro-Palestinian slogans such as “from the river to the sea”.
– We are witnessing an Islamic resurgence in these years and months. Not only in Denmark, but also in many other European countries. We see people walking in the streets shouting ‘from the river to the sea’, meaning that the state of Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth, she argues.
– You have to remember that Danish citizenship is not just something you get. It is something you have to earn, she continues.
Critical opposition
Inger Støjberg points out that Israel has a “very special status” historically, which is why it is important to include Israel in an application for citizenship.
– It is a small democracy surrounded by anti-democratic forces that has been at the centre of the dispute for many years.
However, the opposition is unimpressed with the proposal, with Marin Lidegaard, political leader of Radikale Venstre, calling it a ‘false proposal that tries to whip up emotions’. He also argues that it would be legally unsound.
– We grant citizenship on the basis of qualifications. So you know Danish, how many years you have been in the country, what you have done or not done in terms of crime and so on. That is reasonable.
– But to start granting citizenship on the basis of the political views people have or don’t have, that’s both distorted and crazy, he continues.
