europe - antisemitism study

8/3/2019 Europe - Antisemitism study

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/europe-antisemitism-study 1/26

Attitudes Toward Jews inSeven European Countries

February 2009

Prepared by:First International Resources, LLC

605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 www.adl.org



2

Table of Contents

Methodology 3

Anti-Semitism in Europe 4

Global Financial Crisis 16

Trends in Anti-Semitic Attitudes --Country by Country Results 17



3

Methodology

First International Resources was commissioned by the Anti-

Defamation League to research attitudes and opinions towardJews, the Middle East and the global financial crisis in sevenEuropean countries.

Our research focused on the attitudes of the general public inAustria, France, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Spain and theUnited Kingdom.

Data results for each individual country were weighted basedon age and gender. The completed interview data underwent

minor weighting to national population data using officialgovernment information on age and gender .

In addition to the individual country results, we have compiledoverall statistics which take into account the findings from theseven countries surveyed as a whole. These figures arecombined results from our surveys, with each country’sfindings being weighted equally as one-seventh of the whole.

Fieldwork was done by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), which

conducted a total of 3,500 telephone interviews -- 500 in each ofthe seven countries -- among the general public betweenDecember 1, 2008 – January 13, 2009.

Interviews were conducted in the native language of each of thecountries and were completed by TNS.

The margin of error for each country is +/- 4 at 95% level ofconfidence.



4

Anti-Semitism in Europe

As with previous surveys, data from this latest 2009 Europeantracking poll indicates that significant percentages of Europeanrespondents continue to believe in some of the most perniciousanti-Semitic stereotypes.

Respondents across the continent were asked whether or not theythought the following four statements were “probably true” or“probably false.”

1) Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country.2) Jews have too much power in the business world.3) Jews have too much power in international financial

markets.4) Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in

the Holocaust.

Respondents were also asked:

Whether they agree or disagree with the statement that“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 theybelieved the violence directed against European Jews was a resultof anti-Jewish feelings or anti-Israel sentiment.



5

(1) Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country.

The data indicate that Europeans continue to question theloyalty of their Jewish citizens.

Overall, nearly half of those surveyed in the seven countries, 49percent, believe that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to theirown country.

A majority of respondents in Germany, Poland and Spainbelieve that this statement is “probably true.”

Percent responding “probably true”

47%

38%

53%

40%

63% 64%

37%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United Kingdom



6

(2) Jews have too much power in the business world.

High levels of those surveyed across Europe continue tobelieve in the traditional anti-Jewish canard that “Jews have toomuch power in the business world.”

Overall, 40 percent of all respondents believe this stereotype tobe true.

More than half of Hungarian, Spanish and Polish respondentsbelieve that “Jews have too much power in the businessworld.”


36% 33%

21%

67%

55% 56%

15%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain UnitedKingdom



7

(3) Jews have too much power in international financial markets.

Similarly, respondents in the seven countries still adhere to thenotion that “Jews have too much power in internationalfinancial markets.”

Overall, 41 percent of those surveyed cling to the traditionalstereotype that Jews exert too much influence over

international financial markets. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed in Spain believe the

above statement to be “probably true.”


37%

27%22%

59%54%

74%

15%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%




8

(4) Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in theHolocaust.

Large percentages of respondents across Europe believe thatJews still talk too much about what happened to them in theHolocaust.

Overall, 44 percent of those surveyed believe it is “probablytrue” that Jews still talk too much about the Holocaust.


55%

33%

45%

56% 55%

42%

20%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%




9

The following chart illustrates the percentage of those surveyedin each country who answered “probably true” to at least 3 ofthe following traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes:

1) Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country.2) Jews have too much power in the business world.3) Jews have too much power in international financial

markets.4) Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in

the Holocaust

Overall, nearly one-third of those surveyed, 32 percent, believe

that at least three of the above statements are “probably true,”while 15 percent believe that all four are “probably true.”

In fact, 28 percent of Polish respondents, 20 percent of Spanishrespondents, 18 percent of Hungarian respondents and 17percent of French respondents believe that all four of the abovestatements are “probably true.”

30%

20% 20%

47% 48% 48%

10%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%




10

Moreover, the data indicate that age, education and incomelevel are key factors in determining the likelihood of arespondent believing in the traditional anti-Semitic stereotypestested.

Those over the age of 65, those who did not continue theireducation beyond the age of 17 and those earning less than€11,000 are more likely than the rest of the population to agreewith at least three of the four anti-Semitic characterizationspresented in the survey.

The following table illustrates this trend in the seven countriessurveyed.

18%

55%

55%

50%

26%

32%

38%

15%

54%

65%

30%

34%

50%

22%

59%

56%

53%

32%

30%

45%

10%

48%

48%

47%

20%

20%

30%

68%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

United Kingdom

Spain

Poland

Hungary

Germany

France

Austria OverallPopulation

Age 65+

Did notcontinueeducationbeyond 17

Earn less than

€11,000

Percentage responding “probably true” to at least three of the four anti-Semiticstereotypes tested



11

(5) The Jews are responsible for the death of Christ.

A significant percentage of those surveyed continue to blameJews for the death of Christ.

Overall, 23 percent agree with the statement that “Jews areresponsible for the death of Christ.”

Nearly half of Polish respondents, 48 percent, agree with thisstatement -- the highest percentage of all the countriessurveyed.

Percent responding “strongly agree” + “somewhat agree”

17%

11%

15%

33%

48%

21%19%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United

Kingdom



12

(6a) Is your opinion of Jews influenced by actions taken by theState of Israel?

Overall, 23 percent of those surveyed say that their opinion ofJews is influenced by the actions taken by the State of Israel.

Percent responding “yes”

28%

12%

25%

15%

23%

36%

20%

0%

20%

40%




13

Respondents who answered “yes” in the previous questionwere then asked the following:

(6b) Is your opinion of Jews better or worse?

Overall, of those respondents whose opinions are influenced,58 percent say that their opinion of Jews is worse as a result ofthe actions taken by Israel.

Respondents in Spain (74 percent) and the United Kingdom (66percent) are most likely to view Jews more negatively as aresult of actions taken by the State of Israel.

Percent responding “worse”

47% 47%

57%60%

47%

74%

66%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%




14

(7) In your opinion, is the violence directed against Jews in(insert individual country name) a result of anti-Jewishfeelings or a result of anti-Israel sentiment?

Overall, 38 percent of those surveyed believe that the violencedirected against Jews is a result of anti-Jewish feelings, while24 percent believe it is a result of anti-Israel sentiment.

Hungarian and Polish respondents are most likely to believethat anti-Jewish sentiment is the reason behind the violencedirected against Jews in their two countries.

Spain is the only country in which more respondents cited anti-Israel sentiment as opposed to anti-Jewish feelings as the maincause of the violence directed against Jews.

22%

39%

25%

39%

25%

37%

17%

48%

17%

48%

38%

26% 26%30%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Aus tr ia F ra nce Ge rm any Hunga ry Po la nd Spa in Unite dKingdom

Anti-Israel Sentiment Anti-Jewish Feelings



15

8) Do you think your government is doing enough to ensurethe safety and security of its Jewish citizens?

Overall, 57 percent of respondents believe that theirgovernment is doing enough to ensure the safety and securityof its Jewish citizens.

Austrian and German respondents are most likely to think thattheir government is providing enough protection for its Jewishcitizens.

More than a quarter of respondents in Hungary and Poland donot believe that their respective government is doing enough to

ensure the safety of its Jewish citizenry.

71%

12%

60%

16%

68%

18%

51%

26%

54%

27%

52%

21%

46%

23%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Aus tr ia F rance Ge rm any Hungary P o land Spa in Unite dKingdom

Yes No



16

Global Financial Crisis Despite the complexities of the current global economic

environment, survey data indicate that Jews receive a disturbing

amount of blame for the financial crisis. Overall, 31 percent of respondents across Europe blame Jews in

the financial industry either “a great deal,” “a good amount” or “alittle” for the current global economic crisis.

How much blame do you place on Jews in the financial industry for the current global economic crisis? Do you blame them a great deal, a good amount, a little or not at all?

Percent responding “a great deal,” “a good amount” or “a little”

43%

15%

30%

46%

38%

25%

16%

0%

20%

40%

60%




17

Trends in Anti-Semitic Attitudes --Country by Country Results

In 2007, the Anti-Defamation League conducted similar surveys of attitudestoward Jews in each of these seven countries. The following sectioncompares results from the 2007 survey with results from the recentlycompleted 2009 tracking survey.

A comparison with the 2007 survey indicates that over the past twoyears levels of anti-Semitism have remained steady in six of theseven countries tested.

The United Kingdom was the only country in which there was amarked decline in the percentage of respondents who believe that atleast three of the four anti-Semitic stereotypes are “probably true.”

The percentage of those believing that “Jews have too much powerin the business world” has increased by 7 percent in Hungary, 6percent in Poland and 5 percent in France.

Since 2007, there has been a 6 point increase in the percentage ofSpanish respondents who believe that “Jews have too much powerin international financial markets.” In fact, nearly three-quarters ofSpanish respondents now believe this stereotype to be “probablytrue.”

As in 2007, respondents continue to regard “anti-Jewish feelings” asthe main cause of the violence directed against Europe’s Jews asopposed to “anti-Israel sentiment.”



18

Austria

54%

43%

37%

54%

55%

37%

47%

36%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Jews still talk too muchabout what happened to

them in the Holocaust

Jews have too muchpower in international

financial markets

Jews have too muchpower in the business

world

Jews are more loyal toIsrael than to this country

2009

2007

Percent responding “probably true” toeach statement



19

France

40%

28%

28%

39%

33%

27%

38%

33%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%




financial markets


world


2009

2007




20

Germany

45%

25%

21%

51%

45%

22%

53%

21%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%




financial markets


world


2009

2007




21

Hungary

58%

61%

60%

50%

56%

59%

40%

67%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Jew s still talk too muchabout what happened to


Jews have too much powerin inter national financial

markets

Jews have too much powerin the business world

Jews are more loyal toIsrael than to this country 2009

2007

Percent responding “probably true” to

each statement



22

Poland


each statement

58%

54%

49%

59%

55%

54%

63%

55%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%




financial markets


world


2009

2007



23

Spain


46%

68%

53%

60%

42%

74%

64%

56%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%




financial markets


world


2009

2007



24

United Kingdom

28%

21%

22%

50%

20%

15%

37%

15%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%




financial markets


world


2009

2007


each statement



25

Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagreeor strongly disagree with the following statement: “The Jews

are responsible for the death of Christ.”

Percent responding “strongly agree” + “somewhat agree”

20%17%

14%11%

1 3%1 5%

26 %

33%

39%

48%

2 2% 21 % 2 2%19%

0%

20%

40%

60%

A ustr ia F ra nce Ge r many Hunga ry Po land Spa in Unite dKingdom

2007 2009



26

In your opinion, is the violence directed against EuropeanJews a result of anti-Jewish feelings or a result of anti-Israelsentiment?

Percent responding “anti-Jewish feelings”

Percent responding “anti-Israel sentiment”

40 % 39 %

33 %

39 %

44 %

37 %

50 %48 %

36 %

48 %

19%

26 %27 %

30%

0%

20%

40%

60%

A us tr ia F ra nce Ge rm any Hunga ry Po la nd Spa in Unite dKingdom

2007 2009

30 %

22 %

26 % 25 % 24 % 25 %

16 % 17 %14 %

17 %

33%

38 %

34 %

26%

0%

20%

40%

60%

A us tr ia F ra nce Ge rm any Hunga ry Po la nd Spa in Unite dKingdom

europe - antisemitism study

Documents