American Attitudes Toward Jews and Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitic Propensities* in the United States 1964-2011 (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
1964 |
1992 |
1998 |
2002 |
2005 |
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
29% |
20% |
12% |
17% |
14% |
14% |
12% |
15% |
*see page 16 of linked PDF for explanation of
research methods
Anti-Semitic Propensities, cont. (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
|
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
0-1 range: Those essentially free
from anti-Semitic views |
53% |
57% |
54% |
| 2-5 range: Those neither prejudiced or unprejudiced |
33% |
31% |
32% |
| 6+ range: Those with the most anti-Semitic views |
14% |
12% |
15% |
Concerns about Jewish power drive anti-Semitic
propensities (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
Percentage of the most anti-Semitic Americans who said "probably
true" to the ADL's anti-Semitic index of questions.
|
1992 |
1998 |
2005 |
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
Too much power in business |
74% |
77% |
82% |
84% |
79% |
78% |
| Too much power in the U.S. |
71% |
66% |
70% |
67% |
64% |
67% |
| Control Wall Street |
76% |
72% |
75% |
78% |
68% |
71% |
Concerns about Jewish power are prevalent among
the most anti-Semitic (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
Percentage of the most anti-Semitic Americans, compared to the
general population, who answered "probably true" to the ADL's
anti-Semitic index of questions.
|
Those who answered 6+
on index |
Among general population |
Too much power in business |
78% |
20% |
| Too much power in the U.S. |
67% |
14% |
| Control Wall Street |
71% |
19% |
Since 1964, 30 percent of Americans have consistently
believed that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to America, despite
the changing makeup of the U.S. population. (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
Percentage of Americans who believe Jews are more loyal to Israel than
to America, 1964-2011
|
1964 |
1992 |
1998 |
2002 |
2005 |
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
Percent who say "probably true" |
30% |
35% |
31% |
33% |
33% |
31% |
30% |
30% |
*only 5% of the least anti-Semitic Americans accept this assertion;
while a large percentage (82%) of those who fall into the most anti-Semitic
category believe Jews are more loyal to Israel.
A surprising number of Americans agree with sharply worded
criticisms of Jews. (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
Percent of Americans who answered "probably true."
|
1964 |
1992 |
1998 |
2002 |
2005 |
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
"Jews have too much power in
the U.S. today." |
n/a |
31% |
11% |
20% |
15% |
15% |
13% |
14% |
| "Jews are more willing than others to use shady
practices to get what they want." |
42% |
21% |
13% |
19% |
15% |
17% |
13% |
15% |
| "Jewish business people are so shrewd that others
don't have a fair chance at competition." |
35% |
19% |
14% |
17% |
15% |
16% |
13% |
16% |
"Jews have too much power in
the business world." |
29% |
24% |
16% |
24% |
19% |
20% |
18% |
20% |
| "Jews have too much control and influence on
Wall Street." |
30% |
27% |
16% |
20% |
17% |
18% |
15% |
19% |
| "Jews have lots of irritating faults." |
40% |
22% |
14% |
20% |
16% |
13% |
16% |
14% |
| "Jews don't care what happens to anyone but their
own kind." |
26% |
16% |
9% |
16% |
12% |
14% |
12% |
16% |
| "Jews are more loyal to Israel than America." |
30% |
35% |
31% |
33% |
33% |
31% |
30% |
30% |
| "Jews are (not) just as honest as other business
people." |
28% |
16% |
10% |
14% |
12% |
14% |
12% |
14% |
| "Jews stick together more than other Americans." |
52% |
51% |
57% |
50% |
50% |
50% |
43% |
49% |
| "Jews always like to be at the head of things." |
54% |
39% |
33% |
35% |
32% |
31% |
26% |
33% |
Less educated Americans are more likely to hold anti-Semitic
views. "6+ Index" indicates that respondents agreed with six
or more of the ADL's 11 index statements about Jews, that can be found
in tables above or in the parenthetical link. (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
|
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
High school or Less on 6+ Index |
21% |
19% |
22% |
| Some College on 6+ Index |
14% |
11% |
13% |
| College Graduate on 6+ Index |
10% |
8% |
9% |
Even Americans who hold the most anti-Semitic
views agree with many positive statements about Jews. (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
|
The general population,
answering "Probably True" |
Those with the most anti-Semitic
views, answering "Probably True" |
"Jews have a strong faith in
God" |
79% |
68% |
| "Jews contributed much to the cultural life of
America" |
64% |
56% |
| "Jews emphasize the importance of family life" |
83% |
79% |
Percentage of Americans who said, "Jews were
responsible for the death of Christ." (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
|
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
Among the general population |
27% |
29% |
31% |
| Those who answered 6+ on Index |
55% |
54% |
51% |
Percentage of Americans who said, "Jews still
talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust."
(Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
|
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
Among the general population |
25% |
25% |
26% |
| Those who answered 6+ on Index |
69% |
68% |
68% |
There is a high correlation between anti-Semitic
beliefs and a broader intolerance.
"The idea that everyone has a right to his own opinion is being
carried too far these days." (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
|
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
Among the general population |
49% |
36% |
43% |
| Those who answered 6+ on Index |
67% |
67% |
65% |
Anti-Semitic propensities among Hispanics differ
according to birthplace.
Hispanic Americans born outside of the U.S. are more likely
than Hispanics born in the U.S. to hold anti-Semitic views.
(Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
|
2005 |
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
General Population |
14% |
15% |
12% |
15% |
| White |
9% |
10% |
8% |
9% |
| U.S. born Hispanic |
19% |
15% |
18% |
20% |
| Foreign-born Hispanic |
35% |
29% |
35% |
42% |
In the past four years, anti-Semitic views among
the African American population have remained steady, but are consistently
higher than the general population.
Anti-Semitic propensities among African-Americans, 1992-2011.
(Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
|
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
General population |
14% |
12% |
15% |
| African-American population |
25% |
28% |
29% |
The "Pro-Israel Lobby" is seen as much
less influential than other well-known political powers.
"Which of the following lobbying organizations do you believe
has the most influence on American government policy?"
(Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
|
2007 |
2011 |
The National Rifle Association |
11% |
14% |
| The Saudi Oil Lobby |
25% |
22% |
| The Pharmaceutical Association of America |
24% |
24% |
| The Tobacco Industry |
8% |
12% |
| The Pro-Israel Lobby |
4% |
7% |
The 50 percent of Americans who scored 0-1 on
the index are remarkably free of anti-Semitic views.
The Americans in the 0-1 category are distinguishably free from anti-Semitic
propensities. (Anti-Defamation
League, October 2011)
|
Those who answered 0-1 |
Those who answered 6+
on Index |
"Jews are more willing to use
shady practices" |
0% |
67% |
| "Jews have too much power in the U.S." |
1% |
67% |
| "Jews have too much power in the business world" |
1% |
67% |
Percent of Americans with unfavorable views toward Jews.
(Pew
Global Attitudes Project, September 3, 2008)
| |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| Unfavorable |
8% |
7.5% |
5% |
6% |
7% |
While nobody will say it out loud, there is much
evidence that Jews control America's foreign policy. (The Israel
Project National Survey, January 2007)
| Agree |
16% |
| Disagree |
77% (55% strongly) |
While nobody will say it out loud, there is much evidence that American-Jews control America's foreign policy. (The Israel Project National Survey, January 2007)
| Agree |
18% |
| Disagree |
73% (51% strongly) |
While nobody will say it out loud, there is much evidence that American-Jews control the world's financial and communications institutions. (The Israel Project National Survey, January 2007)
| Agree |
19% |
| Disagree |
71% (48% strongly) |
While nobody will say it out loud, there is much evidence that Jews control the world's financial and communications institutions. (The Israel Project National Survey, January 2007)
| Agree |
20% |
| Disagree |
71% (46% strongly) |
If the United States elected a president who was Jewish,
what impact, if any, do you think it would have on United States foreign
policy? Do you think having a Jewish president would be -- [ROTATED:
helpful to U.S. foreign policy, would not make much difference, or would
it be harmful to U.S. foreign policy]? (CNN/USA Today/Gallup, May
30-June 1, 2003)
| Helpful |
11% |
| Not much difference |
65% |
| Harmful |
18% |
| No opinion |
|
Do you think that anti-Semitism, or prejudice against Jewish people,
is currently a – very serious problem, somewhat of a problem,
not much of a problem, or not a problem at all – in the United
States? (CNN/USA Today/Gallup, May 30-June 1, 2003)
| Very serious problem |
9% |
| Somewhat of a problem |
48% |
| Not much of a problem |
30% |
| Not a problem at all |
|
| No opinion |
4% |
Do you think that anti-Semitism in the United States
is currently a very serious problem, somewhat of a problem, not much
of a problem, or not a problem at all? (Los Angeles Times,
March 8-April 1, 1998)*
| Very serious problem |
19% |
| Somewhat of a problem |
52% |
| Not much of a problem |
23% |
| Not a problem at all |
|
| No opinion |
2% |
*poll of adult Jews who live in the United States
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement -- virtually
all positions of influence in the United States are open to Jews?
| |
|
CNN/USA Today/Gallup
2003 |
| Agree |
56% |
59% |
| Disagree |
40% |
34% |
| No opinion |
4% |
7% |
*poll of adult Jews who live in the United States.
Which of the following comes closest to your views
about the amount of Anti-Semitism -- that is, hostility toward Jewish
people -- in this country today... (Newsweek, March 21-22,
2002)
| |
|
| There is more anti-Semitism
because of what is going on in Israel |
17%
|
| There is more anti-Semitism,
but for reasons other than what's going
on in Israel |
19%
|
| There has been no recent
increase in anti-Semitism |
52%
|
| Don't Know |
|
|
