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ADL Survey of Five European Countries Finds
One in Five Hold Strong Anti-Semitic Sentiments;
Majority Believes Canard of Jewish Disloyalty
New York, NY, October 31, 2002... An opinion survey of adults in five European countries found that 21% harbor strong anti-Semitic views, and 56% believe that Jews are more loyal to Israel than their own country, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported today. European Attitudes Toward Jews: A Five Country Survey of 2,500 -- 500 each in Austria, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland -- was conducted by telephone in the native language of each of the countries September 9-29, 2002 by First International Resources for ADL. Spain, with 12,000 Jews out of a population of 39.6 million, had the highest percentage of anti-Semitic views of the countries polled. The survey was released in conjunction with ADL's Conference on Global Anti-Semitism, a gathering of world Jewish leaders, government officials and experts.
"These findings are especially disturbing because they show that the old, classical form of anti-Semitism, which we had hoped was long gone in Europe, continues to be resilient," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "It is alarming in this post-Holocaust, post-September 11, world to find that one in five believe the age-old canards about Jews."
The Findings: Anti-Semitism
Of those surveyed:
- 21% harbor strong anti-Semitic views.
34% in Spain, 23% in Italy, 22% in Switzerland, 19% in Austria,
7% in the Netherlands
- 56% believe Jews are more loyal to Israel than their own country.
72% in Spain, 58% in Italy, 54% in Austria, 49% in Switzerland,
48%, The Netherlands
- 40% believe that Jews have too much power in international financial markets.
71% in Spain
- 29% say Jews don't care about anyone but their own kind.
Spain and Switzerland 34%
- 25% say Jews are more willing than others to use shady practices to get what they want.
Spain 33%, Austria 28%, Italy and Switzerland 27%
- 49% believe Jews still talk too much about the Holocaust.
Spain 57%, Austria 56%, Switzerland 52%, Italy 43%,
The Netherlands 35%
"Large numbers of Europeans accept a wide range of traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes about Jews," Mr. Foxman said. "These beliefs, such as the charge that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their home country, help to fuel and legitimize anti-Semitic violence. European leaders need to accept and act on the fact that they have a serious problem at home."
The Findings: Anti-Jewish Violence in Europe
- 53% believe the recent outbreak of violence against Jews in Europe is a result of anti-Israel sentiment and not traditional anti-Jewish feelings.
- 61% said they are "very concerned" or "fairly concerned" about violence directed against European Jews.
- 52% of Swiss and 49% of Dutch respondents believe that anti-Jewish feelings could rise within their countries.
- While a majority believe their governments are doing enough to ensure the safety and security of their Jewish citizens, 30% of Italian and Spanish respondents do not think their governments are doing enough, the highest percentage of any of the countries surveyed.
"It is encouraging that such a large majority feel concerned about violence against Jews. That is the good news," said Mr. Foxman. "The bad news is that not enough people of goodwill have been willing to stand up to reject anti-Semitism. It is especially disturbing that only 60 years after the Holocaust, Europe's leaders and citizenry are being diffident when confronted with anti-Semitism."
European Trends: A Ten Country Comparison
In June 2002 ADL conducted a similar survey in Belgium, France, Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom. Following are country comparisons from the two surveys:
- Percentage of those who believe Jews are more loyal to Israel than their home country: Spain 72%, Italy 58%, Germany 55%, Austria 54%,
Belgium 50%, Switzerland 49%, The Netherlands 48%, Denmark 45%,
France, 42% UK, 34%
- Percentage of those who believe Jews have too much power in the business world: Spain 63%, Belgium 44%, France 42%, Austria 40%, Switzerland 37%, Germany 32%, UK 21%, The Netherlands 20%, Denmark 13%
- Percentage of those who believe Jews still talk too much about the Holocaust: Germany 58%, Spain 57%, Austria 56%, Switzerland 52%,
France 46%, Italy 43%, Belgium 38%, The Netherlands 35%,
Denmark 30%, UK 23%
"These findings will help guide our deliberations during the ADL Conference on Global-Anti-Semitism," said Glen A. Tobias, ADL National Chairman. "ADL will share with our European colleagues educational programs and other methods that we believe have worked on the American scene to lower the level of anti-Semitism."
The survey, fielded in Europe by Taylor Nelson Sofres, has a margin of error of +/-4.4% at 95% level of confidence.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.
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