ZGram - 6/12/2002 - "Anti-Semitism on the Rise in America"

[irimland@zundelsite.org]

ZGRAM - WHERE TRUTH IS DESTINY

JUNE	12, 2002

Good Morning from the Zundelsite:

Some thought-provoking statistics, courtesy of the Anti-Defamation League:

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ADL: Anti-Semitism on the Rise in America

Anti-Semitism on the Rise in America
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/4109_12.asp
                    
    Press Release Anti-Semitism-USA
    RULE
    Anti-Semitism on the Rise in America -- ADL Survey on Anti-Semitic
    Attitudes Reveals 17 Percent of Americans Hold "Hardcore" Beliefs
   
    New York, NY, June 11, 2002 A nationwide survey released today by the
    Anti-Defamation League (ADL) shows an increase in the number of
    Americans with anti-Semitic attitudes, reversing a ten-year decline
    and raising concerns that "an undercurrent of Jewish hatred persists
    in America."
   
    The national poll of 1,000 American adults conducted April 26 through
    May 6, 2002 found that 17% of Americans - or about 35 million adults -
    hold views about Jews that are "unquestionably anti-Semitic." Previous
    surveys commissioned by ADL over the last decade had indicated that
    anti-Semitism was in decline. A survey of attitudes four years ago
    found that the number of Americans with hardcore anti-Semitic beliefs
    had dropped from 20% in 1992, to 12% in 1998.
   
    The findings in brief

Strongly anti-Semitic:

      * 17% of Americans
      * 35% of Hispanics
       
      * 44% of foreign-born Hispanics
      * 20% of Hispanic Americans born in U.S.
                                      
      35% of African-Americans
   
      3% of U.S. college and university students
   
    "We are greatly concerned that many of the gains we had seen in
    building a more tolerant and accepting America have not taken hold as
    firmly as we had hoped, and have to some degree been reversed," said
    Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "While there are many
    factors at play, all of the evidence suggests that a strong
    undercurrent of Jewish hatred persists in America."
   
    One of the most important findings of [37]ADL's 2002 Survey of
    Anti-Semitism in America concerns Hispanic Americans, one of the most
    significant and fastest growing segments of the American population,
    in which the poll found an extraordinary gap between those born in the
    United States and those born abroad. The survey revealed that while
    44% of foreign-born Hispanics hold hardcore anti-Semitic beliefs, 20%
    of Hispanic Americans born in the U.S. fall into the same category.
   
    The anti-Semitic propensities of foreign-born Hispanics were
    significantly above the national average. Meanwhile, the number of
    African-Americans with strong anti-Semitic beliefs continued to hold
    steady at 35%.
   
    "Religious background has always played a role in determining one's
    beliefs about Jews. So it is not surprising yet very distressing that
    one of the fastest growing segments in America holds strongly
    anti-Semitic views," said Mr. Foxman. "There is no doubt that this is
    a reflection of what is being learned about Jews in the schools,
    churches and communities of Hispanic nations, which is anti-Semitism
    at its most basic. We need to re-focus our efforts on reaching out to
    these groups in addition to the larger American public."
   
    The survey, which has a margin of error of plus or minus three
    percentage points, was conducted by the Marttila Communications Group,
    a Boston-based public opinion research firm, with the polling firm SWR
    Worldwide. Marttila has conducted ADL's previous surveys on
    anti-Semitism, using similar questions and criteria to measure and
    monitor levels of anti-Semitism in the U.S.
   
    The survey findings come at a time of increased anti-Semitic activity
    in America. A five-month ADL Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, released
    today, shows that [38]attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions
    were up 11% in the first five months of 2002, compared with the same
    period in 2001
   
                                Major Findings

      * Anti-Semitic attitudes are up; the most widely held stereotype is
        that "Jews have too much power in the U.S." The poll found 17% of
        Americans were "most anti-Semitic" in their views, while another
        35% were in the "middle" category, holding neither prejudiced nor
        unprejudiced views, but not completely prejudice-free in their
        attitudes toward Jews. The survey based its findings on an "index
        of anti-Semitic beliefs" used by researchers in previous surveys
        in 1964, 1981, 1992 and 1998. The survey found that 48% of the
        American public is prejudice-free in their feelings toward Jews,
        down from 53% in 1998.

        Less educated Americans continue to be more likely to hold
        anti-Semitic views. Race and age also continued to play roles in
        determining anti-Semitism. However, new stereotypes about "Jewish
        power" in the U.S. have replaced many of the classical ethical
        stereotypes previously attributed to Jewish Americans. In the 2002
        survey, 20 % of Americans agreed with the statement "Jews have too
        much power in the U.S. today." Nearly three-quarters (72%) of
        those in the most anti-Semitic category believe that Jews have too
        much power.

      * Anti-Israel feelings are triggering anti-Semitism. For the first
        time, negative attitudes toward Israel and concern that American
        Jews have too much influence over U.S. Middle East policy are
        helping to foster anti-Semitic beliefs. Slightly more than half of
        Americans (51%) said the U.S. has been tilting too much toward
        Israel, while three-quarters of the most anti-Semitic Americans
        (73%) said they felt this way. While 41% of Americans say their
        sympathies are more with Israel than with Arab countries,
        sympathies are more closely divided among the most anti-Semitic
        Americans (29% sympathetic to Israel versus 23% sympathetic to
        Arab countries.) The most anti-Semitic Americans were four times
        as likely (42%) to believe that American Jewish leaders have too
        much influence over U.S. foreign policy than Americans holding non
        anti-Semitic beliefs (11%).

        "We have said that anti-Israel feelings are linked to
        anti-Semitism, and the responses from Americans in this poll make
        this connection clear," said Mr. Foxman. "Anti-Israel sentiments
        are used in this country to fuel, legitimize and rationalize
        anti-Semitism."

        Those Americans who believe that Jews have too much influence over
        U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East; that U.S. policy tilts too
        much toward Israel; that the U.S. is more likely to be targeted
        for a terrorist attack because of American support; and who see
        increased anti-Jewish activity around the country and world, have
        a significantly greater likelihood to fall into the most
        anti-Semitic category.

        Previous polls conducted during two contentious moments in the
        U.S. - Israel relationship found that the upper-educated Americans
        were highly critical of the Israeli governments at that time.
        However, these upper-educated Americans were also the least
        anti-Semitic of all Americans. The 2002 survey tells a different
        story. The analysis reveals that attitudes toward Israel are
        actually fostering anti-Semitic beliefs among some Americans.

      * Anti-Semitism among foreign-born Hispanics is extremely high. The
        survey uncovered, for the first time, that Hispanic Americans who
        were born outside of the U.S. are much more likely to hold
        anti-Semitic views than Hispanics born in the U.S. In both this
        survey, which included an oversample of 300 Hispanics, and a
        previous 2001 survey of 1,000 Hispanic Americans also conducted by
        ADL, a portrait of two very different Hispanic communities
        emerges, each holding very different views of Jews and tolerance
        in general.

        Forty-four percent (44%) of foreign-born Hispanics fall into the
        most anti-Semitic category, while only 20% of Hispanics born in
        the U.S. fall into this category. As a result, it is only
        foreign-born Hispanics whose anti-Semitic propensities are
        significantly above the national average. Perceptions of "Jewish
        control," influence and power as well as more traditional canards
        about Jews, religion and ethical practices appear to be driving
        anti-Semitism among foreign-born Hispanics. For example, more than
        half of foreign-born Hispanics (55%) agree with the assertion that
        "Jews don't care what happens to anyone but their own kind."
        Forty-four percent (44%) of Hispanics born outside the U.S. agree
        with the assertion that "Jews were responsible for the death of
        Christ," compared with 26% of those born in the U.S.

      * Campus faculty and students are the least anti-Semitic among
        Americans. Anti-Semitism on U.S. college campuses is virtually
        non-existent. Only 3% of undergraduates, and 5% of faculty fall
        into the most anti-Semitic category. Fully 74% of undergraduates,
        and 79% of faculty, are prejudice free.

        "The campus findings are paradoxical, coming at a time when
        anti-Israel rallies, divestment drives and other pro-Palestinian
        activism on college campuses stemming from the Mideast conflict
        have been at an all-time high. Many of the anti-Israel rallies led
        to expressions of anti-Semitism, which is why we selected this
        particular group for polling," said Mr. Foxman.

        "The good news is that the overwhelming majority of students and
        faculty have by and large rejected the hate being promulgated by a
        select few. Too often, anti-Israel activism crosses the line into
        anti-Semitism in an environment where there is none. The bad news
        is that there is a silent majority on campus that is not speaking
        out against anti-Semitism."
       
                  ADL Reports Rise in Anti-Semitic Incidents
   
    Coinciding with the rise in anti-Semitic attitudes, ADL released the
    [39]most recent statistics on anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. ADL's
    Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents reported an 11 % increase in the
    number of anti-Jewish incidents during the first five months of 2002,
    compared with the same period in 2001. ADL collects and compiles
    information on anti-Semitic incidents across the country through its
    30 Regional Offices in conjunction with law enforcement and
    periodically issues reports on its findings.
   
    "It is especially disturbing that while anti-Semitic attitudes are
    rising, so too are the number of violent anti-Semitic attacks against
    Jews and Jewish institutions," said Mr. Foxman. "We believe that
    September 11 and the Mideast conflict have clearly had an impact. As
    these life-altering events have transformed us as a nation, they have
    also triggered the anti-Semitism that was already there, but buried
    beneath the surface."
   
    Glen A. Tobias, ADL National Chairman, added, "We are gravely
    concerned about what has been happening in Europe, where anti-Israel
    and anti-Semitic sentiments have led to violent attacks against the
    Jewish communities in France and in other countries. As the 2002
    survey shows, America is not immune to anti-Semitism. We are concerned
    that what is happening in Europe could lead to a similar reaction
    here."
   
    In January - May 2002, 626 anti-Semitic incidents were reported to
    ADL, compared with 564 incidents reported during the same period in
    2001. The activity was comprised of 435 acts of harassment or
    intimidation and 191 acts of vandalism. The audit found that the
    number of incidents increased steadily during the first four months in
    2002, with 81 incidents in January, 98 in February, 124 in March and
    222 in April (101 in May). Campus incidents were up dramatically. ADL
    tracked at least 63 incidents nationwide on campus, while only 15
    incidents were reported during the same period in 2001.
   
    EDITORS NOTE: To speak with an expert on anti-Semitism, contact the
    ADL Media Relations Department by [40]e-mail or by phone at (212)
    885-7749.

References

   37. http://www.adl.org/anti_semitism/2002/as_survey.pdf
   38. http://www.adl.org/anti_semitism/audit_JanMay_2002.asp
   39. http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/audit_JanMay_2002.asp
   40. mailto:adlmedia@adl.org


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