Attitudes Toward Jews in Seven European Countries February 2009

Prepared by: First International Resources, LLC

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

Table of Contents

Methodology

Anti-Semitism in Europe

Global Financial Crisis

16

Trends in Anti-Semitic Attitudes -Country by Country Results

17

Methodology
First International Resources was commissioned by the AntiDefamation League to research attitudes and opinions toward Jews, the Middle East and the global financial crisis in seven European countries. Our research focused on the attitudes of the general public in Austria, France, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Spain 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 seven countries surveyed as a whole. These figures are combined results from our surveys, with each countrys findings 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 of the seven countries -- among the general public between December 1, 2008 January 13, 2009. 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 at 95% level of confidence.

Anti-Semitism in Europe
As with previous surveys, data from this latest 2009 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.

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

Percent responding probably true

80%
64%

63%

60%
47%

53%

40%

40%

38%

37%

20%

0%
Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United Kingdom

The data indicate that Europeans continue to question the loyalty of their Jewish citizens. Overall, nearly half of those surveyed in the seven countries, 49 percent, believe that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their own country. A majority of respondents in Germany, Poland and Spain believe that this statement is probably true.

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

Percent responding probably true

80% 67% 60%

56%

55%

40%

36%

33% 21%

20%

15%

0%
Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United Kingdom

High levels of those surveyed across Europe continue to believe in the traditional anti-Jewish canard that Jews have too much power in the business world. Overall, 40 percent of all respondents believe this stereotype to be true. More than half of Hungarian, Spanish and Polish respondents believe that Jews have too much power in the business world.

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

Percent responding probably true

80%

74%

60%

59% 54%

40%

37% 27% 22%

20%

15%

0%
Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United Kingdom

Similarly, respondents in the seven countries still adhere to the notion that Jews have too much power in international financial markets. Overall, 41 percent of those surveyed cling to the traditional stereotype 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.

(4) Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust.
Percent responding probably true

80%

60%

55% 45%

56%

55%

42%

40%

33%

20%

20%

0%
Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United Kingdom

Large percentages of respondents across Europe believe that Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust. Overall, 44 percent of those surveyed believe it is probably true that Jews still talk too much about the Holocaust.

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

80%

60% 47% 40% 30% 20% 20%

10%

48%

48%

20%

0%
Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United Kingdom

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 Spanish respondents, 18 percent of Hungarian respondents and 17 percent of French respondents believe that all four of the above statements are probably true.

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Moreover, the data indicate that age, education and income level are key factors in determining the likelihood of a respondent believing in the traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes tested. Those over the age of 65, those who did not continue their education beyond the age of 17 and those earning less than 11,000 are more likely than the rest of the population to agree with at least three of the four anti-Semitic characterizations presented in the survey. The following table illustrates this trend in the seven countries surveyed.
Percentage responding probably true to at least three of the four anti-Semitic stereotypes tested

30%

Austria
38% 20%

45% 50%

Overall Population

France
20%

30% 34% 32%

Age 65+

Germany

32% 30% 26% 47%

Hungary
48%

53% 65% 50%

Did not continue education beyond 17

68%

Poland
48%

56% 55%

Earn less than 11,000

59% 54% 55%

Spain
10%

United Kingdom

22% 15% 18%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

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

Percent responding strongly agree + somewhat agree

60%
48%

40%
33%

21%

20%

17% 11%

19% 15%

0%
Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United Kingdom

A significant percentage of those surveyed continue to blame Jews for the death of Christ. Overall, 23 percent agree with the statement that Jews are responsible for the death of Christ. Nearly half of Polish respondents, 48 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

40%
36%

28% 25% 23%

20%

20%
15% 12%

0%
Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United Kingdom

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

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Respondents who answered yes in the previous question were then asked the following: (6b) Is your opinion of Jews better or worse?
Percent responding worse

80%

74% 66%

60%

60%
47% 47%

57% 47%

40%

20%

0%
Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United Kingdom

Overall, of those respondents whose opinions are influenced, 58 percent say that their opinion of Jews is worse as a result of the actions taken by Israel. Respondents in Spain (74 percent) and the United Kingdom (66 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 Jews in (insert individual country name) a result of anti-Jewish feelings or a result of anti-Israel sentiment?

60%
48% 39% 48%

40%

39%

37%

38% 30%

22%

25%

25% 17% 17%

26%

26%

20%

0%

Austria

France

Germany

Hungary

Poland

Spain

United Kingdom

Anti-Israel Sentiment

Anti-Jewish Feelings

Overall, 38 percent of those surveyed believe that the violence directed against Jews is a result of anti-Jewish feelings, while 24 percent believe it is a result of anti-Israel sentiment. Hungarian and Polish respondents are most likely to believe that anti-Jewish sentiment is the reason behind the violence directed against Jews in their two countries. Spain is the only country in which more respondents cited antiIsrael sentiment as opposed to anti-Jewish feelings as the main cause of the violence directed against Jews.

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8)

Do you think your government is doing enough to ensure the safety and security of its Jewish citizens?

80% 71% 68% 60% 60% 51% 54% 52% 46% 40% 26% 20% 12% 16% 18% 27% 21% 23%

0%

Austria

France

Germany

Hungary

Poland

Spain

United Kingdom

Yes

No

Overall, 57 percent of respondents believe that their government is doing enough to ensure the safety and security of its Jewish citizens. Austrian and German respondents are most likely to think that their government is providing enough protection for its Jewish citizens. More than a quarter of respondents in Hungary and Poland do not believe that their respective government is doing enough to ensure the safety of its Jewish citizenry.

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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 a little 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

60%

46% 43%

40%
30%

38%

25%

20%

15%

16%

0%
Austria France Germany Hungary Poland Spain United Kingdom

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Trends in Anti-Semitic Attitudes -Country by Country Results

In 2007, the Anti-Defamation League conducted similar surveys of attitudes toward Jews in each of these seven countries. The following section compares results from the 2007 survey with results from the recently completed 2009 tracking survey. A comparison with the 2007 survey indicates that over the past two years levels of anti-Semitism have remained steady in six of the seven countries tested. The United Kingdom was the only country in which there was a marked decline in the percentage of respondents who believe that at least three of the four anti-Semitic stereotypes are probably true. The percentage of those believing that Jews have too much power in the business world has increased by 7 percent in Hungary, 6 percent in Poland and 5 percent in France. Since 2007, there has been a 6 point increase in the percentage of Spanish respondents who believe that Jews have too much power in international financial markets. In fact, nearly three-quarters of Spanish respondents now believe this stereotype to be probably true. As in 2007, respondents continue to regard anti-Jewish feelings as the main cause of the violence directed against Europes Jews as opposed to anti-Israel sentiment.

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Austria
Percent responding probably true to each statement

47%

Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country

54%

2009
Jews have too much power in the business world
36%

2007
37%

Jews have too much power in international financial markets

37%

43%

Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust

55%

54%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

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France
Percent responding probably true to each statement

38%

Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country

39%

2009 2007

Jews have too much power in the business world

33%

28%

Jews have too much power in international financial markets

27%

28%

Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust

33%

40%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

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Germany
Percent responding probably true to each statement

53%

Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country

51%

2009
21%

Jews have too much power in the business world

2007

21%

Jews have too much power in international financial markets

22%

25%

Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust

45%

45%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

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Hungary
Percent responding probably true to each statement

40% Jew s are m ore loyal to Israel than to this country 50%

2009 2007

67% Jew s have too m uch pow er in the business w orld 60%

Jew s have too m uch pow er in international financial m arkets

59%

61%

Jew s still talk too m uch about w hat happened to them in the Holocaust

56%

58%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

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Poland
Percent responding probably true to each statement

63%

Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country

59%

Jews have too much power in the business world

55%

49%

2009 2007

Jews have too much power in international financial markets

54%

54%

Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust

55%

58%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

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Spain
Percent responding probably true to each statement

64%

Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country

60%

2009 2007
Jews have too much power in the business world
56%

53%

Jews have too much power in international financial markets

74%

68%

Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust

42%

46%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

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United Kingdom
Percent responding probably true to each statement

37%

Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country

50%

2009
Jews have too much power in the business world
15%

2007
22%

Jews have too much power in international financial markets

15%

21%

Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust

20%

28%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

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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

60%
48%

40%
33% 26% 20% 17% 15% 14% 13% 11%

39%

22%

21%

20%

22% 19%

0%

Austria

France

Germany

Hungary

Poland

Spain

United Kingdom

2007

2009

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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% 44% 48% 48%

40%

40% 39% 33%

39%

37%

36% 30%

26%

27%

20%

19%

0%

Austria

France

Germany

Hungary

Poland

Spain

United Kingdom

2007

2009

Percent responding anti-Israel sentiment

60%

40%
33% 30% 26%25% 22% 24%25% 16% 17% 17% 14%

38% 34%

26%

20%

0%

Austria

France

Germany

Hungary

Poland

Spain

United Kingdom

2007

2009