Attitudes Toward Jews and
the Middle East in
Six European Countries
July 2007
Prepared by:
First International Resources, LLC
ww.adl.org
2
Table of Contents
Methodology
3
Anti-Semitism in Europe
4
Trends in Anti-Semitic Attitudes
16
Attitudes Toward the Middle East
25
i.
Iran
25
ii.
Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
28
iii.
War in Lebanon
33
iv.
Middle East Policy
35
Trends in Attitudes Toward Israel
36
3
Methodology
•
First International Resources was commissioned by the AntiDefamation League to research attitudes and opinions toward Jews
and the Middle East in six European countries.
•
Our research focused on the attitudes of the general public in Austria,
Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United
Kingdom.
•
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
statistics which take into account the findings from the six countries
surveyed as a whole. These figures are combined results from our
surveys, with each country’s findings being weighted equally as onesixth of the whole.
•
Fieldwork was done by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), which conducted a
total of 3,000 telephone interviews -- 500 in each of the six countries -among the general public between May 29 – June 18, 2007.
•
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 this latest 2007 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 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 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”
80%
60%
54%
54%
50%
46%
50%
44%
40%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
¾ The data indicate that Europeans continue to question the
loyalty of their Jewish citizens.
¾ Overall, half of those surveyed in the six countries believe that
Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their own country.
¾ A majority of respondents in Austria, Belgium, Hungary and the
United Kingdom believe that this statement is “probably true.”
6
(2) Jews have too much power in the business world.
Percent responding “probably true”
80%
60%
60%
41%
40%
37%
36%
22%
20%
0%
11%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
¾ 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, 35 percent of all respondents believe this stereotype to
be true.
¾ More than half of Hungarian respondents, 60 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”
80%
61%
60%
43%
40%
40%
40%
21%
20%
0%
14%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
¾ Similarly, respondents in the six countries still adhere to the
notion that “Jews have too much power in international
financial markets.”
¾ Overall, 36 percent of those surveyed cling to the traditional
stereotype that Jews exert too much influence over
international financial markets.
¾ A majority of 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”
80%
60%
58%
54%
45%
43%
40%
31%
28%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
¾ Large portions of respondents believe that Jews still talk too
much about what happened to them in the Holocaust.
¾ Overall, 44 percent of those surveyed believe it is “probably
true” that Jews still talk too much about the Holocaust.
9
The following chart illustrates the percentage of those surveyed
in each country who answered “probably true” to at least 3 of
the 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
60%
50%
40%
32%
30%
30%
20%
17%
8%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
¾ Overall, 28 percent of those surveyed believe that at least three
of the above statements are “probably true.”
¾ In fact, 21 percent of Hungarian respondents and 17 percent of
Austrian respondents believe that all four of the statements are
“probably true.”
10
¾ Moreover, the data indicate that age and education are key
factors in determining the likelihood of a respondent believing
in the traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes.
¾ Those over the age of 65 and those who did not continue their
education beyond the age of 17, are more likely than the rest of
the population to agree with at least three of the four antiSemitic characterizations presented in the survey.
¾ The following table illustrates this trend in the six countries
surveyed.
Percentage responding “probably true” to at least three of
the four anti-Semitic stereotypes tested
32%
Austria
51%
57%
30%
Belgium
42%
45%
50%
Hungary
53%
57%
8%
The Netherlands
Overall
Population
14%
14%
30%
Switzerland
Age 65+
36%
34%
Did not
continue
education
beyond 17
17%
United Kingdom
25%
21%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
11
(5) The Jews are responsible for the death of Christ.
Percent responding “strongly agree” + “somewhat agree”
40%
26%
22%
20%
20%
20%
0%
18%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Netherlands
17%
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
¾ A significant percentage of those surveyed continue to blame
Jews for the death of Christ.
¾ Overall, 20 percent agree with the statement that “Jews are
responsible for the death of Christ.”
¾ More than a quarter of Hungarian respondents, 26 percent,
agree with this statement -- the highest percentage of all the
countries surveyed.
12
(6a) Is your opinion of Jews influenced by actions taken by the
State of Israel?
Percent responding “yes”
40%
35%
29%
26%
20%
0%
17%
Austria
Belgium
16%
Hungary
15%
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
¾ Overall, 23 percent of those surveyed say that their opinion of
Jews is influenced by the actions taken by the State of Israel.
13
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”
100%
78%
80%
69%
64%
63%
59%
56%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
¾ Overall, of those respondents whose opinions are influenced,
nearly two-thirds, 64 percent, say that their opinion of Jews is
worse as a result of the actions taken by Israel.
¾ Respondents in Hungary (78 percent) and the Netherlands (69
percent) are most likely to view Jews more negatively as a
result of actions taken by the State of Israel.
14
(7)
In your opinion, is the violence directed against Jews in
(insert individual country name) a result of anti-Jewish
feelings or a result of anti-Israel sentiment?
60%
50%
40%
40%
42%
37%
33%
37%
35%
30%
27%
25%
20%
0%
34%
16%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
Anti-Israel Sentiment
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
Anti-Jewish Feelings
¾ Overall, 35 percent of those surveyed believe that the violence
directed against Jews is a result of anti-Jewish feelings, while
33 percent believe it is a result of anti-Israel sentiment.
¾ Hungarian respondents are most likely to believe that antiJewish sentiment is the reason behind the violence directed
against Hungarian Jews.
¾ Hungary and Austria were also the only two countries where
more respondents cited anti-Jewish sentiment as opposed to
anti-Israel feelings as the main cause of the violence directed
against Jews in those countries.
15
8)
Do you think your government is doing enough to ensure
the safety and security of its Jewish citizens?
100%
80%
78%
74%
64%
66%
64%
60%
53%
40%
20%
0%
24%
20%
15%
15%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
Yes
14%
The
Netherlands
10%
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
No
¾ Overall, more than two-thirds of those surveyed, 67 percent,
believe that their government is doing enough to ensure the
safety and security of its Jewish citizens.
¾ Swiss and Austrian respondents are most likely to think that
their government is providing enough protection for its Jewish
citizens.
¾ Nearly a quarter of respondents in the U.K., 24 percent, do not
believe that their government is doing enough to ensure the
safety of the country’s Jews.
16
Trends in Anti-Semitic Attitudes
In 2005, the Anti-Defamation League conducted similar surveys of attitudes
toward Jews in each of these six countries. The following section
compares results from the 2005 survey with results from the recently
completed 2007 tracking survey.
¾ A comparison with the 2005 survey indicates that over the past two
years there has been a marked increase in the acceptance of all the
traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes in the 6 countries tested.
¾ Respondents in Austria, Belgium and Hungary are more likely to
believe each of the four anti-Semitic stereotypes tested than they
were two years ago.
¾ By far the most troubling development since 2005 has been the
dramatic increase in the likelihood of Europeans questioning the
loyalty of their Jewish citizens.
¾ The percentage of those believing that “Jews are more loyal to Israel
than to this country” has increased by 16 percent in Austria, 13
percent in Belgium, 13 percent in Hungary, 10 percent in the
Netherlands, 6 percent in Switzerland, and 11 percent in the United
Kingdom.
¾ Since 2005, there has been a 15 point increase in the percentage of
Swiss respondents who believe that Jews have too much power in
the business world.
¾ The 2007 survey showed an increase in the belief that Jews have too
much power in international financial markets. In fact, more than six
in ten Hungarian respondents now believe this stereotype to be
“probably true.”
¾ Of the six countries surveyed, only the Netherlands saw a decrease
in the acceptance of 3 out of 4 of the anti-Semitic stereotypes
presented. As stated above, the only increase in the Netherlands
revolved around the questioning of the loyalties of its Jewish
citizens.
¾ There has been a significant shift in the opinions of respondents
regarding the cause of violence directed against European Jews. In
all six countries surveyed, the percentage of respondents now citing
“anti-Jewish feelings” as the cause of the violence directed against
Europe’s Jews has increased in the past two years.
17
Austria
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
54%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
38%
2007
2005
37%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
24%
43%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
33%
54%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
46%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
18
Belgium
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
54%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
41%
2007
2005
36%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
33%
40%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
33%
43%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
41%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
19
Hungary
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
50%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
2007
37%
2005
60%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
55%
61%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
55%
58%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
46%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
20
The Netherlands
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
46%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
36%
2007
2005
11%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
18%
14%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
19%
31%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
34%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
21
Switzerland
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
44%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
38%
2007
2005
41%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
26%
40%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
30%
45%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
48%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
22
United Kingdom
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
50%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
39%
2007
2005
22%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
14%
21%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
16%
28%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
28%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
23
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”
40%
26%
20%
20%
20%
19%
20%
18%
16%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
2005
The
Netherlands
2007
19%
20%
22%
17%
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
24
In your opinion, is the violence directed against European
Jews a result of anti-Jewish feelings or a result of anti-Israel
sentiment?
Percent responding “anti-Jewish feelings”
60%
50%
40%
40%
35%
33%
27%
25%
23%
20%
0%
27%
27%
24%
20%
17%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
2005
The
Switzerland
Netherlands
United
Kingdom
2007
Percent responding “anti-Israel sentiment”
60%
40%
39%
44%
42%
41%
37%
30%
37%
33%34%
27%
20%
0%
46%
16%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
2005
The
Switzerland
Netherlands
2007
United
Kingdom
25
Attitudes Toward the Middle East
Opinions Regarding Iran
¾
An overwhelming percentage of respondents in each of the six
countries surveyed are concerned about the prospects of Iran
developing nuclear weapons.
Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, somewhat unconcerned or
not all concerned about Iran developing nuclear weapons?
Percent responding “very concerned or somewhat concerned”
100%
88%
80%
75%
79%
81%
74%
78%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
26
¾
A majority of respondents in each of the six countries believe that
Iran is developing a nuclear weapons program.
¾
Overall, 68 percent of those surveyed believe that Iran’s nuclear
program is being developed for military purposes. 50 percent
believe it is being developed solely for military purposes while 18
percent believe that Iran’s nuclear program is both a weapons
program and a nuclear energy program.
¾
Only 16 percent of respondents believe that Iran’s nuclear
program is being developed solely for a nuclear energy program.
Some countries accuse Iran of having a secret nuclear weapons program,
but Iran says that it is only developing nuclear energy, not weapons. What
do you think -- is Iran’s nuclear program being developed for nuclear
weapons or nuclear energy?
80%
60%
56%
55%
49%
49%
49%
42%
40%
24%
20%
19%
13%
0%
Austria
18%
14%
Belgium
Nuclear weapons
19%
19%
16%
18%
16%17%
13%
Hungary
The
Netherlands
Weapons and Energy
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
Nuclear energy
27
¾
Overall, a majority of those surveyed, 51 percent, support
imposing sanctions against Iran until it agrees to suspend its
nuclear program.
¾
Support for sanctions is strongest in Hungary and the
Netherlands.
¾
Austria is the only country in which a majority of respondents
oppose sanctions against Iran.
Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose
imposing economic sanctions against Iran until it agrees to suspend its nuclear
program?
80%
61%
60%
54%
56%
57%
53%
45% 46%
40%
37%
36%
33%
35%
27%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
Support
The
Netherlands
Oppose
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
28
Attitudes Toward the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
¾
Overall, Europeans are paying less attention to the news coverage
of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Today, 59 percent of
respondents in the six countries tested say that they have been
following the coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict a “little”
or “not at all.”
¾
Respondents in the Netherlands, 55 percent, and Belgium, 48
percent, are most likely to be following the media coverage “a
great deal” or “a good amount.”
There has been a lot of news coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
How closely have you been following this coverage? Has it been…?
80%
69%
68%
66%
60%
57%
55%
52%
48%
44%
40%
34%
43%
31%
30%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
A Great Deal + A Good Amount
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
A Little + Not At All
¾
Overall, respondents are evenly split about the media coverage
with 44 percent saying it has been balanced and 41 percent saying
it has been biased.
¾
Of those who believe the media coverage to be biased, a strong
majority, 61 percent believe it has been biased in favor of “the
Israelis” while 20 percent believe it has been biased in favor of
“the Arabs.”
29
¾
When asked which side in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict they
sympathize with more, a plurality of respondents in Austria,
Belgium, the Netherlands, Hungary and Switzerland answered
“neither side.”
¾
The United Kingdom was the only country in which a plurality of
those surveyed sympathized more with the Palestinians.
¾
Hungarian and Dutch respondents were the only ones to
sympathize more with the Israelis than with the Palestinians.
¾
The following chart illustrates the country-by-country breakdown
of respondent sympathies regarding the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict.
Austria Belgium Hungary The Netherlands Switzerland United Kingdom
Sympathize more
with the
Palestinians
23%
31%
11%
25%
32%
32%
Sympathize more
with the Israelis
20%
16%
22%
26%
17%
18%
Both
9%
9%
18%
13%
11%
11%
Neither
41%
34%
37%
27%
36%
27%
¾
Overall, 30 percent view the Palestinians favorably while 21
percent view them unfavorably. However, a plurality of
respondents, 39 percent, say that they view the Palestinians
“neither favorably nor unfavorably.”
¾
Respondents are more evenly split regarding their views toward
Israel with 29 percent viewing Israel favorably and 26 percent
viewing Israel unfavorably. A plurality, 37 percent, are neither
favorable nor unfavorable toward Israel.
¾
When asked about Hamas, a majority of respondents, 53 percent,
consider it to be a terrorist organization. 21 percent consider
Hamas as a legitimate nationalist movement.
30
Given what you know about the group Hamas, do you consider it to be a
terrorist organization or legitimate nationalist movement?
80%
60%
52%
59%
55%
52%
50%
48%
40%
23%
22%
22%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
Terror Organization
17%
The
Switzerland
Netherlands
United
Kingdom
Legitimate Nationalist Movement
¾
A majority of respondents, 52 percent, believe that Hamas wants
to destroy Israel. 23 percent do not believe this while 25 percent of
respondents said they did not know.
¾
Overall, 34 percent of those surveyed believe that Israel wants to
destroy the Palestinian people, while 49 percent differ with this
notion.
In your opinion, does Hamas want to destroy Israel?
% responding yes
In your opinion, does Israel want to destroy the Palestinian people?
% responding yes
80%
80%
60%
22%
16%
20%
60%
56%
60%
50%
49%
48%
50%
40%
40%
20%
20%
38%
36%
33%
34%
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
38%
23%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Netherlands
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
United
Kingdom
31
¾
Overall, 47 percent believe that the “Palestinian Authority truly
wants to reach a peace agreement with Israel.”
¾
Similarly, a majority of respondents, 51 percent, agree that
“Israel truly wants to reach a peace agreement with the
Palestinians.”
¾
Hungarian respondents are least likely to believe that the
Palestinian Authority wants to reach a peace agreement with
Israel and Austrian respondents are least likely to believe in
Israel’s desire to achieve peace with the Palestinians.
¾ Overall, 41 percent of those surveyed believe that Israel’s
treatment of Palestinians is similar to South Africa’s treatment of
blacks during apartheid.
¾ Nearly half of those surveyed in Belgium, 49 percent, agree that
Israel’s behavior is similar to South Africa’s during apartheid.
¾
38 percent of those surveyed do not believe that Israel is an open
and democratic society.
¾
Hungary is the only country in which a plurality of respondents do
not believe that Israel is an open and democratic society.
Would you say that Israel is an open and democratic society?
100%
80%
60%
47%
40%
50%
43%42%
37%
37%
41%
45%42%
45%
33%
32%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
Yes
The
Netherlands
No
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
32
Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly
oppose efforts by UK-based organizations to boycott Israel over its
treatment of the Palestinians?
¾ By a margin of 42-37 British respondents oppose the efforts by
UK-based organizations to boycott Israel.
¾ Respondents over the age of 45 are much more likely than other
segments of the British population to “strongly oppose” the
efforts to boycott Israel.
¾ Of the 15 percent of those surveyed who say that they “strongly
oppose” a boycott of Israel, 79 percent are over the age of 45.
60%
42%
37%
40%
20%
20%
0%
Strongly+Somewhat
Support
Strongly+Somewhat
Oppose
Don’t Know
33
Opinions Regarding Hezbollah and
the 2006 War in Lebanon
¾ A majority of those surveyed in all six countries, 53 percent,
consider Hezbollah to be a terror organization. Conversely, 17
percent consider Hezbollah a legitimate nationalist movement.
¾ Dutch respondents are most likely to consider Hezbollah a
terrorist organization.
Given what you know about Hezbollah, do you consider it to be a terrorist
organization or legitimate nationalist movement?
80%
62%
60%
55%
50%
53%
49%
48%
40%
20%
20%
0%
19%
15%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
Terror Organization
19%
The
Netherlands
18%
Switzerland
Legitimate Nationalist Movement
14%
United
Kingdom
34
¾ Overall, half of those surveyed do not believe that Israel had a
right to use military force against Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon
in response to attacks against Israeli soldiers.
¾ The United Kingdom is the only country where a majority of
respondents supported Israel’s right to use military force against
Hezbollah.
In July 2006, Hezbollah fighters crossed the Lebanese/Israeli border and attacked
Israeli soldiers in northern Israel. The operation resulted in the death of eight
Israeli soldiers and the capture of two additional Israeli solders. Do you think that
Israel had a right to use military force against Hezbollah forces in southern
Lebanon in response to this attack?
80%
60%
60%
60%
59%
53%
40%
35%
40%
27%
52%
35%
30%
33%
26%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Netherlands
Yes
No
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
35
Middle East Policy
¾ Overall, 40 percent of those surveyed believe that their own
government’s policies toward the Middle East are even-handed. 35
percent say their government’s policies have been biased in favor
of Israel while 19 percent believe their government’s policies have
been biased in favor of the Palestinians.
¾ A plurality of those surveyed in the six countries, 44 percent,
agree with the notion that “American Jews control the U.S. Middle
Eastern policy.”
¾ A majority of respondents in Austria, Hungary and Switzerland
believe that American Jews control U.S. policy in the Middle East.
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
with the following statement: “American Jews control U.S. Middle Eastern policy.”
80%
60%
53%
52%
52%
44%
43%
40%
32%
31%
33%
30%
34%
38%
27%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
Agree
The
Netherlands
Disagree
Switzerland
United
Kingdom
36
Trends in Attitudes Toward Israel
In 2005, the Anti-Defamation League conducted similar surveys of
attitudes towards Jews, Israel and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Where
applicable, the following section compares results from the 2005
surveys with results from the recently completed 2007 surveys.
¾ Overall, attitudes toward Israel have changed only slightly over
the course of the past two years.
¾ Respondents in Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and the United
Kingdom now view Israel more favorably while Israel’s favorability
rating has dropped in Austria and Hungary.
¾ The largest jump in favorability toward Israel was seen in the
Netherlands (11 points) and Belgium (9 points).
¾ When thinking 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 and the United Kingdom.
¾ Sympathy for Israel has increased most in Austria (7 points) and
Hungary (7 points) while sympathy for the Palestinians has seen
the largest increase in the United Kingdom (5 points).
¾ Respondents in each of the six countries surveyed are less likely
than they were two years ago to believe that the Palestinians or
the Israelis truly want to reach a peace agreement.
¾ Austria and Hungary have witnessed the most dramatic change. In
2005, 57 percent of Austrians and 56 percent of Hungarians
agreed with the statement that “Israel truly wants to reach a peace
agreement with the Palestinians.” Today, that number stands at 43
percent in each of those two countries.
¾ Likewise, in 2005, 59 percent of Austrians and 48 percent of
Hungarians agreed with the statement that “the Palestinian
Authority truly wants to reach a peace agreement with Israel.”
Today, that number stands at 37 percent in Austria and 28 percent
in Hungary.
37
¾ Since 2005, there has been a slight increase in the percentage of
respondents who believe that Israel is an open and democratic
society. The largest increase has been in Switzerland where half
of those surveyed now believe that Israel is and open and
democratic society. In 2005 that number stood at 42 percent.
¾ Austrian respondents are now the only ones who are less likely
than they were two years ago to respond favorably when asked if
Israel is an open and democratic society.
38
Thinking generally about Israel, would you say that your views are very favorable, fairly
favorable, neither favorable nor unfavorable, fairly unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
Percent responding “very” or “fairly” favorable
60%
39%
40%
35%
33%
31%
28%
26%
20%
0%
27%
30%
22%
20%
Austria
27%
17%
Belgium
Hungary
The
Switzerland
Netherlands
2005
United
Kingdom
2007
Percent responding “very” or “fairly” unfavorable
60%
40%
28%
30%
32%
21%
Austria
31%
22%
20%
18%
16%
20%
0%
31%
28%
Belgium
Hungary
2005
The
Switzerland
Netherlands
2007
United
Kingdom
39
Thinking specifically about the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, are
your sympathies more with the Israelis or more with the Palestinians?
Percent responding “more with the Israelis”
40%
26%
20%
16%
13%
0%
22%
20%
21%
15%
14%
11%
11%
Austria
18%
17%
Belgium
Hungary
The
Switzerland
Netherlands
2005
United
Kingdom
2007
Percent responding “more with the Palestinians”
40%
38%
29%
32%
32%
31%
30%
28%
27%
25%
23%
20%
12%
11%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
2005
The
Switzerland
Netherlands
2007
United
Kingdom
40
Please tell me whether you agree a lot, agree a little, disagree a little or
disagree a lot with the following statement: “Israel truly wants to reach a
peace agreement with the Palestinians.”
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
Netherlands
Switzerland
UK
‘05
‘07 ’05
‘07
’05
‘07
’05
‘07
’05
‘07
’05
‘07
Agree
57
43 57
56
56
43
58
59
54
49
57
54
Disagree
18
31 25
32
16
22
27
38
22
35
17
24
Please tell me whether you agree a lot, agree a little, disagree a little or
disagree a lot with the following statement: “The Palestinian Authority truly
wants to reach a peace agreement with Israel.”
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
Netherlands
Switzerland
UK
‘05
‘07 ’05
‘07
’05
‘07
’05
‘07
’05
‘07
’05
‘07
Agree
59
37 65
59
48
28
57
55
65
56
56
48
Disagree
15
34 14
27
20
39
27
31
15
27
16
28
41
In your opinion is Israel an open and democratic society?
Percent responding “Yes”
60%
51%
47%
50%
45%
43%
39%
40%
41%
45%
42%
38%
37%
35%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
The
Switzerland
Netherlands
2005
United
Kingdom
2007
Percent responding “No”
60%
43% 42%
40%
37%
41%
46%
42%
38%
34%
33%
31%
33% 32%
20%
0%
Austria
Belgium
Hungary
2005
The
Netherlands
2007
Switzerland
United
Kingdom