Attitudes Toward Jews in Twelve European Countries
May 2005 Prepared by: First International Resources, LLC
823 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 www.adl.org
2
Table of Contents
Methodology
3
Anti-Semitism in Europe
4
Trends in Anti-Semitic Attitudes
13
Age and Education
26
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Methodology •
First International Resources was commissioned by the AntiDefamation League to research attitudes and opinions toward Jews in twelve European countries.
•
Our research focused on the prevalent attitudes of the general public in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and for the first time, Poland and Hungary.
•
Data results for each individual country were weighted based on age and gender. The completed interview data underwent minor weighting to national population data using official government information on age and gender.
•
In addition to the individual country results, we have compiled overall “European” statistics which take into account the findings from the twelve countries surveyed as a whole. These “European” figures are combined results from our surveys, with each country’s findings being weighted equally as one-twelfth of the whole.
•
Fieldwork was done by Taylor Nelson Sofres, which conducted a total of 6,000 telephone interviews -- 500 in each of the twelve countries -among the general public between April 11 -- May 6, 2005.
•
Interviews were conducted in the native language of each of the countries and were completed by TNS.
•
The margin of error for each country is +/- 4.5 at 95% level of confidence.
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Anti-Semitism in Europe As with previous surveys, data from the 2005 European tracking poll indicates that significant percentages of European respondents continue to believe in some of the most pernicious anti-Semitic stereotypes. Respondents across the continent were asked whether or not they thought 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 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.
5
(1) Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country. Percent responding “probably true”
60%
55% 52%
50%
51%
50% 41%
40%
43%
38% 36%
37%
Ho l l and
Hung ar y
38%
39%
29%
30%
20%
10%
0% A us t r i a
B e l g i um
D enma r k
F r a nce
G e r ma ny
It aly
P o l and
S p a i n S w i t z e r l a nd
UK
¾ The data indicates that Europeans continue to question the loyalty of their Jewish citizens. ¾ Overall, a plurality of those surveyed across Europe, 43 percent, believe that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their own country. ¾ A majority of respondents in Italy, Germany, Poland and Spain responded believe that this statement is “probably true.” ¾ In fact, in ten of the twelve countries surveyed, a plurality of respondents agree with the characterization that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their own country.
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(2) Jews have too much power in the business world. Percent responding “probably true”
60 % 55%
50 % 45% 43%
40 % 33%
33%
30 % 25%
24%
26% 20% 18%
20 %
14% 11%
10 %
0% Austria Belgium D enmark
France
Germany Ho lland Hungary
Italy
Po land
Spain Switzerland
UK
¾ Alarmingly 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.” ¾ Overall, nearly 30 percent of all respondents believe this stereotype to be true. ¾ Half of Hungarian respondents, 55 percent, believe that “Jews have too much power in the business world.”
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(3) Jews have too much power in international financial markets. Percent responding “probably true”
60 % 55%
54%
50 % 43%
40 % 33%
33% 32% 30%
30 % 24%
24%
21% 19%
20 %
16%
10 %
0% Austria
Belgium D enmark France
Germany Ho lland Hungary
Italy
Po land
Spain Switzerland
UK
¾ Similarly, European respondents still adhere to the notion that “Jews have too much power in international financial markets.” ¾ Overall, 32 percent of those surveyed cling to the traditional stereotype that Jews exert too much influence over international financial markets. ¾ A majority of Spanish and Hungarian respondents believe the above statement to be “probably true.”
8
(4) Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust. Percent responding “probably true”
60% 52%
50%
49%
48%
46%
46%
46%
48%
41%
40% 35%
34%
34%
30%
28%
20%
10%
0% A us t r i a
B e l g i um D enmar k
F r ance
G e r many Ho l l a nd
Hung ar y
It aly
P o l and
S p a i n S w i t z e r l a nd
UK
¾ Large portions of the European public continue to believe that
Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust. ¾ Overall, 42 percent of those surveyed believe it is “probably
true” that Jews still talk too much about the Holocaust. ¾ In fact, a plurality of respondents in Austria, Germany, Hungary,
Italy, Poland, Spain and Switzerland believe this notion to be true.
9
(5) The Jews are responsible for the death of Christ. Percent responding “strongly agree” + “somewhat agree”
50%
39%
40%
30% 22% 19%
20%
18%
16%
18%
20%
20%
20%
19%
14%
13%
10%
0% A us t r i a
B e l g i um D enmar k
F r ance
G e r many Ho l l a nd
Hung ar y
It aly
P o l and
S p a i n S w i t z e r l a nd
UK
¾ A significant percentage of those surveyed across Europe continue to blame Jews for the death of Jesus. ¾ Overall, 20 percent agree with the statement that “Jews are responsible for the death of Christ.” ¾ More than a third of Polish respondents, 39 percent, agree with this statement -- the highest percentage of all the countries surveyed.
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(6a) Is your opinion of Jews influenced by actions taken by the State of Israel? Percent responding “yes” 50%
41%
40%
36%
37% 34% 31% 28%
30%
28%
26%
28%
25% 22%
20% 15%
10%
0% A us t r i a
B e l g i um D enmar k
F r ance
G e r many Ho l l a nd
Hung ar y
It aly
P o l and
S p a i n S w i t z e r l a nd
UK
¾ Overall, 29 percent of those surveyed across Europe say that their opinion of Jews is influenced by the actions taken by the State of Israel. ¾ More than a third of those surveyed in Switzerland, Spain, Austria and Denmark view Jews differently as a result of the actions taken by Israel.
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Respondents who answered “yes” in question 6a were then asked the following questions: (6b) Is your opinion of Jews better or worse? Percent responding “worse” 80 % 69%
70 %
63%
62% 59%
60 %
56% 49%
51%
50%
50 % 39%
40 %
42% 38%
39%
30 %
20 % 10 %
0% A us t r i a
B e l g i um D enma r k
F r a nc e
G er many Ho l l a nd
Hung ar y
It aly
P o l a nd
S p a i n S w i t z er l and
UK
¾ Overall, of those respondents whose opinions are influenced, a majority, 53 percent, say that their opinion of Jews is worse as a result of the actions taken by Israel. ¾ Respondents in Spain (69 percent), Belgium (63 percent) and Holland (62 percent) are most likely to view Jews more negatively as a result of actions taken by the State of Israel.
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(7)
In your opinion, is the violence directed against European Jews a result of anti-Jewish feelings or a result of antiIsrael sentiment? 70% 65%
60%
50% 46% 43%
41% 40%
44%
39%
39% 36% 32%
30%
27%
27%
34%
33% 31%
27%
27%
23%
24% 20%
21% 18%
20%
20%
17%
10% 10%
0% A us tria
B elgium
Denmark
Franc e
Germany
Holland
Anti-Je w is h Fe e lings
Hungary
Italy
Poland
Spain
Switz erland
UK
Anti-Is rae l Se ntim e nt
¾ Overall, 39 percent of those surveyed believe that the violence directed against European Jews is a result of anti-Israel sentiment while 23 percent believe it is a result of anti-Jewish feelings. ¾ Danish respondents are most likely to believe that anti-Israel sentiment in the reason for behind the violence directed at European Jews. ¾ Polish respondents are most likely to believe that anti-Jewish feelings are the cause of violence directed against Europe’s Jews.
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Trends in Anti-Semitic Attitudes In 2004, the Anti-Defamation League conducted similar surveys of European attitudes toward Jews. The following section compares results from the 2004 survey with results from the recently completed 2005 tracking survey. ¾ The 2005 survey indicates that over the past year there has been some decline in the acceptance of certain traditional antiSemitic stereotypes in the European countries tested. ¾ However, the opposite is true among respondents in Denmark, where trends actually point to an increase in the percentage of people agreeing with each of the traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes tested. ¾ Additionally, Spanish respondents are more likely to question the loyalty of their Jewish citizens than they were in 2004. ¾ Since 2004, there has been an increase in the percentage of Italian respondents who believe that Jews have too much power in the business world. ¾ The data indicates that those surveyed in Italy and Spain are now more likely to think that Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust. ¾ There has been a slight increase in the belief that Jews are responsible for the death of Jesus in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Holland and Switzerland. ¾ Given that 2005 was the first time polling was conducted in Hungary and Poland, there are no previous results with which to compare.
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AUSTRIA Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
46%
2004
Jew s are more loyal to Israel than to this country
2005
38%
25%
Jew s have too much pow er in the business w orld
24%
36%
Jew s have too much pow er in international financial markets
33%
54%
Jew s still talk too much about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust
0%
46%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
15
BELGIUM Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
46%
2004
Jew s are more loyal to Israel than to this country
2005
41%
37%
Jew s have too much pow er in the business w orld
33%
36%
Jew s have too much pow er in international financial markets
33%
40%
Jew s still talk too much about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust
0%
41%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
16
DENMARK Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
2004
37%
Jew s are more loyal to Israel than to this country
2005
43%
Jew s have too much pow er in the business w orld
9%
11%
18%
Jew s have too much pow er in international financial markets
21%
29%
Jew s still talk too much about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust
0%
35%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
17
FRANCE Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
2004
28%
Jew s are more loyal to Israel than to this country
2005
29%
33%
Jew s have too much pow er in the business w orld
25%
29%
Jew s have too much pow er in international financial markets
24%
35%
Jew s still talk too much about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust
0%
34%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
18
GERMANY Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
50%
2004
50%
2005
Jew s are more loyal to Israel than to this country
24%
Jew s have too much pow er in the business w orld
20%
27%
Jew s have too much pow er in international financial markets
24%
56%
Jew s still talk too much about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust
0%
48%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
19
THE NETHERLANDS Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
44%
2004
Jew s are more loyal to Israel than to this country
2005
36%
18%
Jew s have too much pow er in the business w orld
18%
19%
Jew s have too much pow er in international financial markets
19%
39%
Jew s still talk too much about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust
0%
34%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
20
ITALY Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
57%
Jew s are more loyal to Israel than to this country 55%
2004 2005
29%
Jew s have too much pow er in the business w orld
33%
31%
Jew s have too much pow er in international financial markets
32%
44%
Jew s still talk too much about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust
0%
49%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
21
SPAIN Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
48%
Jew s are more loyal to Israel than to this country 51%
2004
45%
53%
Jew s have too much pow er in international financial markets
54%
41%
Jew s still talk too much about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust
0%
2005
47%
Jew s have too much pow er in the business w orld
46%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
22
SWITZERLAND Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
46%
Jew s are more loyal to Israel than to this country
2005
38%
35%
Jew s have too much pow er in the business w orld
26%
38%
Jew s have too much pow er in international financial markets
30%
49%
Jew s still talk too much about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust
0%
2004
48%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
23
UNITED KINGDOM Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
2004
40%
Jew s are more loyal to Israel than to this country
2005
38%
20%
Jew s have too much pow er in the business w orld
14%
18%
Jew s have too much pow er in international financial markets
16%
31%
Jew s still talk too much about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust
0%
28%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
24
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement: “The Jews are responsible for the death of Christ.” Percent responding “strongly agree” + “somewhat agree” 30%
23% 22% 20%
20%
20%
19%
19%
18%
18% 16% 16%
19%
18% 17%
15%
15% 14%
14% 13%
10%
0%
A ustria
Belgium D enm ark
France
Germ any Holland
2004
Italy
2005
Spain Switzerland
UK
25
In your opinion, is the violence directed against European Jews a result of anti-Jewish feelings or a result of anti-Israel sentiment? 40%
Percent responding “anti-Jewish feelings” 32%
30% 27%
27%
27% 24%
23%
22% 20%
20% 18%
17%18%
17%
15%
14%
20%
13%
12%
14%
10%
10% 6%
0% Austria
Belgium Denmark
France
Germany Ho lland
2004
Italy
Spain Switzerland
UK
2005
80%
Percent responding “anti-Israel sentiment”
70%
70%
65%
60%
56%
59%
60%
55% 50%
50% 39%
51%
50% 43%
40%
60%
46%
44%
41%
41%
39%
36% 33%
31%
30% 20% 10% 0% Austria
Belgium D enmark
France
Germany Ho lland
2004
Italy
Spain Switzerland
2005
UK
26
Age and Education ¾ The data indicates that age and education are key factors in determining the likelihood of a respondent believing in traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes. ¾ Those over the age of 65 and those who completed their education by age 17 or before, are more likely than the rest of the population to agree with the anti-Semitic characterizations presented in the survey. ¾ The following table illustrates this trend in the twelve countries surveyed. Percent responding “probably true” to each statement
43% Je w s are m ore loyal to Is rae l than to this country
50% 48%
Overall
29% Je w s have too m uch pow e r in the bus ine s s w orld
40%
Age 65+ 33%
Completed education by age 17 or before
32% Je w s have too m uch pow e r in inte rnational financial m ark e ts
43% 33%
43% Je w s s till talk too m uch about w hat happe ne d to the m in the Holocaus t
0%
51% 49%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
