Changes

==Views==

==Views==

The AfD is strongly Eurosceptic and opposes the centralization of the socialist and globalist [[European Union]].<ref name="BBC"/> It supports leaving the EU if the socialistic organization does not reform and discontinue its centralization policies.<ref name="BBC"/> The party is similar in EU policy to other right-wing parties in Europe. Additionally, the AfD is pro-direct democracy and anti-establishment.<ref name="BBC"/>

The AfD is strongly Eurosceptic and opposes the centralization of the socialist and globalist [[European Union]].<ref name="BBC"/> It supports leaving the EU if the socialistic organization does not reform and discontinue its centralization policies.<ref name="BBC"/> The party is similar in EU policy to other right-wing parties in Europe. Additionally, the AfD is pro-direct democracy and anti-establishment.<ref name="BBC"/> It supports [[free speech]] rights and strongly opposes [[censorship]].<ref>Williams, Thomas D. (January 2, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/01/02/populist-leader-says-german-censorship-law-is-direct-attack-on-freedom-of-speech/ Populist Leader Says German Censorship Law Is ‘Direct Attack on Freedom of Speech’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.</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 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>

*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.

*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.

*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.

*Byas, Steve (January 1, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/31069-right-wing-european-parties-seek-jewish-support Right-wing European Parties Seek Jewish Support]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.</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>

*Deacon, Liam (September 28, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/09/28/jewish-afd-members-launch-jewish-group-populist-german-party/ Jewish AfD Members Launch Jewish Group Within Populist German Party]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

*Arfa, Orit. [https://www.weeklyblitz.net/news/jewish-supporters-of-germanys-far-right-afd-see-party-as-means-to-counter-anti-semitism/ Jewish supporters of Germany’s far-right AfD see party as means to counter anti-Semitism]. ''Blitz''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.</ref><ref name="JewishSupport">Byas, Steve (January 1, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/31069-right-wing-european-parties-seek-jewish-support Right-wing European Parties Seek Jewish Support]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.</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's deputy leader Beatrix von Storch has spoken highly of Israel<ref>Williams, Thomas D. (September 28, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2017/09/28/german-populist-beatrix-von-storch-says-israel-could-be-a-role-model-for-germany/ German Populist Beatrix Von Storch Says ‘Israel Could Be a Role Model for Germany’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2019.</ref> and has condemned anti-Semitism using rhetoric stronger than any other party.<ref name="JewishSupport"/>

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>