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
3
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.
4
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.
6
(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.”
7
(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.
10
(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.
11
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.
12
(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.
13
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.
14
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%