SNAPSHOTS-TOP.jpg

« Anti-Semitic Rant Passes Without Challenge at Methodist Convention | Main | By the Numbers: Jodi Rudoren's Palestinian Prisoner Article »

May 07, 2012

Will Promoting Positive Jewish Achievements Reduce Negative Sentiment Towards Israel?

chart anti semitism.JPG

As CAMERA previously reported on April 17, a study titled Intolerance, Prejudice and Discrimination by the Frederich Ebert Stiftung in Germany reveals the persistence of anti-Semitism throughout Europe. A substantial number of people in all the European countries polled believe that Israel is conducting a war of extermination against the Palestinians.

Because the study covers a variety of forms of prejudice (anti-Muslim, anti-homosexual, anti-immigrant) its analysis focuses on ideological, political and economic factors. These may not be central to anti-Jewish animosity which appears to be driven by immutable processes.

The highest figures for anti-Jewish attitudes persist in Eastern and Central European countries where Jews have largely disappeared due to prior genocides and emigration and in countries like Norway and Spain that have not had large Jewish populations ever or in many centuries.

Interestingly, in all the countries polled, a majority of respondents believed that Jews have enriched their culture. The fact that this positive belief co-exists with such negative beliefs about Jews does not augur well for campaigns promoted by Jewish organizations and the Israeli government emphasizing the positive contributions made by Israel and the Jewish community as a way to shift public opinion towards Israel.

The study also documents a generational shift towards more anti-Jewish hostility among the youngest cohort. This reverses a long trend of declining anti-Semitism with each new generation.

Posted by SS at May 7, 2012 12:08 PM

Comments

Reporting positive Jewish achievements fuels antisemitism as it reinforces the false Jews-controlling-the-world conspiracies and arrogant-Jews stereotypes.

Posted by: ER at May 7, 2012 11:45 PM

I read something that 63% of Poles in Poland believe that Israel is conducting a war of extermination against the Palestinians."
Israelis should tell Poles, that the majority of Israelis believe that Poland was commiting genocide against the Russians in Katyn.
Then the Poles would realize how stupid they sound.

Posted by: Barry Rosen at May 8, 2012 10:03 AM

Guidelines for posting

This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material.

Post a comment




Remember Me?

(you may use HTML tags for style)