Yet I am entitled to Israeli citizenship since my mother was Jewish. Like the Israelis, the Germans had a rather restrictive nationality policy. Up to this year, German nationality was determined by the nationality of one's parents, not by the place of birth. For years liberals denounced this German system. Under enormous foreign pressure, Chancellor Schroder's government changed the law earlier this year.
Foreigners now have the right to apply for German citizenship after eight years of legal residence.
Children born in Germany to foreign parents will acquire German citizenship at birth, provided at least one parent has lived legally in Germany for a minimum of eight years. Children acquiring German citizenship at birth will have to decide before their 23rd birthday whether they want to retain their German citizenship or their parents' citizenship except in special circumstances. There is still to be no dual citizenship. Panic seized the Israeli body politic. Non-Jews were acquiring too much political clout.