Thousands of British Jews have applied for foreign passports since 2016, driven mainly by a desire to retain EU citizenship after Brexit but also by fears over rising antisemitism and the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn coming to power.<\/p>\n
New figures obtained by The Times show that more than 3,600 Britons have applied for German nationality under a 2015 scheme inviting the descendants of those driven out on religious, racial or political grounds by the Nazis to reclaim citizenship, with most applications from Jewish people.<\/p>\n
Michael Newman, of the Association of Jewish Refugees, said those who fled the Third Reich for Britain might find it \u201cemotionally or psychologically difficult\u201d to reclaim German citizenship, but their children and grandchildren wanted to enjoy freedom of movement after Brexit. Some had also raised fears of rising antisemitism.<\/p>\n
More than 180 British Jews of Sephardic heritage have applied for Portuguese passports and more than 50 have been granted Spanish passports under 2015 schemes to restore citizenship to descendants of Jews persecuted in the 15th century. The Jewish Community of Oporto said it received \u201cthousands\u201d of inquiries from British Jews.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a> (subscription required).<\/p>\n British Jews apply for foreign passports as \u2018insurance policy\u2019 https:\/\/t.co\/BNdZwMQm6q<\/a><\/p>\n — Jerry Kramer (@JKramer328) November 18, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n