ADL Survey In Six European Countries Finds Anti-Semitic Attitudes Up

Thu Aug 16 10:15:08 EDT 2007

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http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASInt_13/5099_13.htm

ADL Survey In Six European Countries Finds Anti-Semitic Attitudes Up: 
Most Believe Jews More Loyal to Israel Than Home Country

Jerusalem, Israel, July 17, 2007

In a companion survey to one fielded several months ago in five 
European countries, a new survey of an additional six countries shows 
similarly that millions of Europeans believe the classical 
anti-Semitic canards that have persistently pursued Jews through the 
centuries.

The findings released by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today 
revealed that half of the Europeans surveyed believe Jews are not 
loyal to their country and more than one third believe that they have 
too much power in business and finance.

Attitudes Toward Jews and the Middle East in Six European Countries, 
an opinion survey of 3,000 adults - 500 in each of the six European 
countries --Austria, Belgium, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, 
and the United Kingdom -- conducted May 29 - June 18, 2007, found an 
increase in negative attitudes toward Jews and a decrease in a very 
few instances from its 2005 findings.

As to attitudes regarding Israel and the Middle East, the poll showed 
mixed findings, as was true in the earlier poll.  For example, while 
favorable views of Israel increased, there was more sympathy for the 
Palestinians than Israel. The survey also found strong attitudes 
against Iran and Hamas.

Asked about Iran's nuclear development, a majority believe Iran is 
developing a nuclear weapon and strongly support sanctions against 
Iran.

A majority identified Hamas as a terrorist organization and supports 
the European decision not to provide foreign aid to the Palestinian 
government until Hamas renounces terrorism, and agrees to recognize 
Israel and agreements signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Asked about boycotts against Israel by UK-based organizations, 43% of 
British respondents said they opposed them while 37% expressed 
support for them.

"Millions of Europeans continue to accept a wide range of traditional 
anti-Semitic stereotypes and conspiracy theories, including the 
charge that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their home country. 
Despite the fact that individual governments and the EU have 
condemned anti-Semitism and sought ways to counteract it, these 
attitudes die hard and help incite and legitimize anti-Semitic acts, 
including violence against Jews," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL 
National Director.

"The increase and high percentage of respondents in Hungary who hold 
negative views of Jews are disturbing" Mr. Foxman added.  "More than 
a decade after the fall of Communism, we hoped that such anti-Jewish 
attitudes would have begun to diminish rather than increase. On the 
other hand, respondents in The Netherlands demonstrated their 
tradition of tolerance by holding the least anti-Semitic attitudes."

Mr. Foxman said he was, "especially concerned that the survey found a 
large percentage of all respondents, and a majority in Austria, 
Hungary and Switzerland, believe that American Jews control U.S. 
policy on the Middle East, an old canard that has been resurrected in 
mainstream America and bolsters existing European attitudes."

Respondents across the continent were asked a series of indicator 
questions representing the most pernicious notions of anti-Semitism 
and whether or not they thought the following four statements were 
"probably true" or "probably false."

* Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country.
* Jews have too much power in the business world.
* Jews have too much power in international financial markets.
* Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust

Respondents were also asked whether they agree or disagree with the 
following statement

* The Jews are responsible for the death of Christ

Finally, respondents were asked

* If their opinion of Jews was influenced by actions taken by the 
State of Israel and whether they believed the violence directed 
against European Jews was a result of anti-Jewish feelings or 
anti-Israel sentiment.

Findings Summary

Attitudes Toward Jews

*  Overall, half of those surveyed in the six countries believe that 
Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their own country, with a 
majority of respondents in Austria, Belgium, Hungary and the United 
Kingdom saying they believe that this statement is "probably true."

*  High levels of those surveyed across Europe still believe in the 
traditional anti-Jewish canard that "Jews have too much power in the 
business world." Overall, nearly 35% of all respondents believe this 
stereotype to be true; in Hungary it is 60%.

*  Similarly, European respondents still adhere to the notion that 
"Jews have too much power in international financial markets." 
Overall, 35% of those surveyed cling to the traditional stereotype, 
in Hungary it is 61%.

*  Large portions of the European public continue to believe that 
Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the 
Holocaust. Overall, 44% of those surveyed believe it is "probably 
true." A majority of respondents in Austria, and Hungary believe it 
to be true.

*  Overall, 20% of those surveyed continue to blame Jews for the 
death of Jesus.

*  Overall, 23% of respondents say that their opinion of Jews is 
influenced by the actions taken by the State of Israel. Of those 
whose opinions are so influenced, nearly two-thirds -- 64% -- say 
that their opinion of Jews is worse as a result of the actions taken 
by Israel.

Attitudes Toward Israel

*Overall, attitudes toward Israel have changed only slightly since 
2005.  Respondents in Belgium (35% up from 26%), The Netherlands (39% 
up from 28%), Switzerland (33% up from 27%) and the United Kingdom 
(30% up from 27%) now view Israel more favorably,  while Israel's 
favorability rating has dropped in Austria (20% down from 31%) and 
Hungary ( 17% down from 22%).

*When asked to think about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict levels of 
sympathy for the Israelis have increased in every country. Sympathy 
for the Palestinians has decreased in every country, except Belgium 
(31% up from 28%) and the United Kingdom (32% up from 27%).

Country by Country Findings on Anti-Semitic Attitudes

In responding "probably true" to the statement, "Jews are more loyal 
to Israel than their own country," the 2007 survey found:

Austria - 54% up from 38% in 2005
Belgium - 54% up from 41%
Hungary - 50% up from 37%
The Netherlands - 46% up from 36%
Switzerland - 44% up from 38%
The United Kingdom - 50% up from 39%

In responding "probably true" to the statement, "Jews have too much 
power in the business world," the 2007 survey found:

Austria - 37%, up from 24% in 2005
Belgium - 36%, up from 33%
Hungary - 60% up from 55%
The Netherlands - 11% down from 18%
Switzerland - 41%, up from 26%
The United Kingdom - 22% up from 14%

In responding "probably true" to the statement "Jews have too much 
power in international financial markets," the 2007 survey found:

Austria - 43%, up from 33% in 2005
Belgium - 40%, up from 33%
Hungary - 61% up from 55%
The Netherlands - 14% down from 19%
Switzerland - 40%, up 30%
The United Kingdom -21% up from 16%

In responding "probably true" to the statement "Jews still talk too 
much about what happened to them in the Holocaust," the 2007 survey 
found:

Austria - 54%, up from 46% in 2005
Belgium - 43%, up from 41%
Hungary - 58% up from 46%
The Netherlands - 31%, down from 34%
Switzerland - 45%, down from 48%
The United Kingdom - 28% no change

ADL commissioned First International Resources to conduct the survey. 
Fielded in Europe by Taylor Nelson Sofres, it was conducted in the 
native language of each of the countries among the general 
population. The margin of error for each country is +/-4.5% at 95% 
level of confidence.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading 
organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services 
that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.