Changes

The AfD strongly opposes [[Angela Merkel]]'s reckless and [[Open borders|leftist migration policy]].<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name="Wa.T."/> It does not believe [[Islam]] to be compatible with Western society.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref>Tomlinson, Chris (April 19, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/04/19/council-muslims-calls-afd-nazis-minaret-ban/ AfD Under Fire: ‘We Are a Christian State, Islam is a Foreign Body… Euro-Islam Does Not Exist’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 8, 2018.</ref> However, the AfD accepts "Muslims who accept and embrace our liberal secular society" rather than "political Islam."<ref name="ExclusiveStorch"/> The party has connections to [[Pegida]], which strongly opposes the Islamification of Europe,<ref name="Germany'sFarage"/><ref name="DW"/> and it has proposed bans on minarets, the Islamic call to prayer, and halal slaughter.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (March 12, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/03/12/germanys-afd-announces-minaret-call-to-prayer-halal-slaughter-ban-ahead-of-sundays-crucial-elections/ Germany’s AfD Announces Minaret, Call To Prayer, Halal Slaughter Ban Ahead Of Sunday’s Crucial Elections]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 8, 2018.</ref>

The AfD strongly opposes [[Angela Merkel]]'s reckless and [[Open borders|leftist migration policy]].<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name="Wa.T."/> It does not believe [[Islam]] to be compatible with Western society.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref>Tomlinson, Chris (April 19, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/04/19/council-muslims-calls-afd-nazis-minaret-ban/ AfD Under Fire: ‘We Are a Christian State, Islam is a Foreign Body… Euro-Islam Does Not Exist’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 8, 2018.</ref> However, the AfD accepts "Muslims who accept and embrace our liberal secular society" rather than "political Islam."<ref name="ExclusiveStorch"/> The party has connections to [[Pegida]], which strongly opposes the Islamification of Europe,<ref name="Germany'sFarage"/><ref name="DW"/> and it has proposed bans on minarets, the Islamic call to prayer, and halal slaughter.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (March 12, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/03/12/germanys-afd-announces-minaret-call-to-prayer-halal-slaughter-ban-ahead-of-sundays-crucial-elections/ Germany’s AfD Announces Minaret, Call To Prayer, Halal Slaughter Ban Ahead Of Sunday’s Crucial Elections]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 8, 2018.</ref>

The AfD strongly supports [[Israel]].<ref>Ahren, Raphael (September 24, 2017). [http://www.timesofisrael.com/loathed-by-jews-germanys-far-right-afd-loves-the-jewish-state/ Loathed by Jews, Germany’s far-right AfD loves the Jewish state]. ''The Times of Israel''. Retrieved September 2, 2018.</ref> It has support from conservative German Jews,<ref>Ersen, Hakan (October 7, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-afd-jews/german-far-right-party-draws-backing-from-small-group-of-jews-idUSKCN1MH0WM German far-right party draws backing from small group of Jews]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved October 7, 2018.</ref> and former [[Mossad]] officer Rafael Eitan, who led the operation to capture [[Adolf Eichmann]], publicly praised the party.<ref>Helmhold, Juliane (February 4, 2018). [https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Former-Mossad-agent-praises-German-nationalist-ultra-right-party-AfD-540623 Former Mossad Agent Praises German Nationalist Ultra-Right Party AfD]. ''The Jerusalem Post''. Retrieved September 2, 2018.</ref> It supported U.S. President [[Donald Trump]]'s decision to move the US embassy from [[Tel Aviv]] to [[Jerusalem]],<ref>Ahren, Raphael (April 17, 2018). [https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-far-right-mp-pushes-recognition-of-jerusalem-as-israels-capital/ German far-right MP pushes recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital]. ''Times of Israel''. Retrieved September 2, 2018.</ref> though it also supports [[Iran nuclear deal]].<ref>Chase, Jefferson (May 8, 2018). [https://www.dw.com/en/iran-nuclear-deal-germanys-special-role-and-plans/a-43701214 Iran nuclear deal: Germany's special role and plans]. ''Deutsche Welle''. Retrieved September 2, 2018.</ref>

The AfD strongly supports [[Israel]].<ref>Ahren, Raphael (September 24, 2017). [http://www.timesofisrael.com/loathed-by-jews-germanys-far-right-afd-loves-the-jewish-state/ Loathed by Jews, Germany’s far-right AfD loves the Jewish state]. ''The Times of Israel''. Retrieved September 2, 2018.</ref> It receives support from conservative German Jews,<ref>Multiple references:

*Ersen, Hakan (October 7, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-afd-jews/german-far-right-party-draws-backing-from-small-group-of-jews-idUSKCN1MH0WM German far-right party draws backing from small group of Jews]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved October 7, 2018.

*Snyder, Don (October 27, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/world/jewish-members-join-german-anti-semitic-party-because-they-are-taking-on-islamization-of-country Jewish members join German party accused of anti-Semitism because they are taking on Islamization of country]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 27, 2018.</ref> and former [[Mossad]] officer Rafael Eitan, who led the operation to capture [[Adolf Eichmann]], publicly praised the party.<ref>Helmhold, Juliane (February 4, 2018). [https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Former-Mossad-agent-praises-German-nationalist-ultra-right-party-AfD-540623 Former Mossad Agent Praises German Nationalist Ultra-Right Party AfD]. ''The Jerusalem Post''. Retrieved September 2, 2018.</ref> It supported U.S. President [[Donald Trump]]'s decision to move the US embassy from [[Tel Aviv]] to [[Jerusalem]],<ref>Ahren, Raphael (April 17, 2018). [https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-far-right-mp-pushes-recognition-of-jerusalem-as-israels-capital/ German far-right MP pushes recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital]. ''Times of Israel''. Retrieved September 2, 2018.</ref> though it also supports [[Iran nuclear deal]].<ref>Chase, Jefferson (May 8, 2018). [https://www.dw.com/en/iran-nuclear-deal-germanys-special-role-and-plans/a-43701214 Iran nuclear deal: Germany's special role and plans]. ''Deutsche Welle''. Retrieved September 2, 2018.</ref>

Critics of the AfD, who mainly comprise [[liberal]]s and the [[establishment]], consider the AfD to be overrun by "neo-Nazis" or Nazi-sympathizers. One example held by critics is a January 2017 speech made in [[Dresden]] by AfD member Björn Höcke, considered by many to be racist and pro-Holocaust. Many [[conservative]]s disagree, arguing that the content of Höcke's speech may have been poorly-worded, but it was patriotic and pro-German rather than Neo-Nazi. While some AfD members (including party leader Petry) condemned his speech and launched a party exclusion trial of Höcke, many other AfD members supported him and his speech, such as the AfD Saarland. Critics of the AfD also falsely label the party terms such as "far-right",<ref name="JasperTNA"/> despite its policies being [[conservative]] and supporting Christian values.<ref name="ExclusiveStorch">Williams, Thomas D. (September 29, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/09/29/exclusive-interview-german-populist-afd-leader-beatrix-von-storch/ Exclusive Interview with German Populist AfD Leader Beatrix Von Storch]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 8, 2018.</ref>

Critics of the AfD, who mainly comprise [[liberal]]s and the [[establishment]], consider the AfD to be overrun by "neo-Nazis" or Nazi-sympathizers. One example held by critics is a January 2017 speech made in [[Dresden]] by AfD member Björn Höcke, considered by many to be racist and pro-Holocaust. Many [[conservative]]s disagree, arguing that the content of Höcke's speech may have been poorly-worded, but it was patriotic and pro-German rather than Neo-Nazi. While some AfD members (including party leader Petry) condemned his speech and launched a party exclusion trial of Höcke, many other AfD members supported him and his speech, such as the AfD Saarland. Critics of the AfD also falsely label the party terms such as "far-right",<ref name="JasperTNA"/> despite its policies being [[conservative]] and supporting Christian values.<ref name="ExclusiveStorch">Williams, Thomas D. (September 29, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/09/29/exclusive-interview-german-populist-afd-leader-beatrix-von-storch/ Exclusive Interview with German Populist AfD Leader Beatrix Von Storch]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 8, 2018.</ref>