European Public Opinion Polls: British Attitudes Toward Jews & Israel
Given Britain's historic role, does it have a particular responsibility to help sort out the modern Israeli-Palestinian conflict? (YouGov, October 2017)
| Yes it does | 45% |
| No it does not | 55% |
Should the UK recognize Palestine as a state? (YouGov, October 2017)
| Yes it should | 53% |
| No it should not | 14% |
No opinion | 33% |
Which of the following do you feel especially unfavourable towards? (Chatham House, November 2015)
| Country | 2012 | 2014 |
| North Korea | 40% | 47% |
| Israel | 17% | 35% |
| Iran | 45% | 33% |
| Pakistan | 32% | 28% |
| Nigeria | 16% | 21% |
| Saudi Arabia | 29% | 15% |
| Argentina | 18% | 12% |
| China | 8% | 10% |
| United States | 8% | 9% |
| Egypt | 7% | 7% |
| India | 6% | 5% |
| South Korea | 4% | 4% |
I support Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 90% |
| disagree | 5% |
Despite the challenges that remain, I feel a deep sense of pride in Israel's achievements in art, science and technology . (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 84% |
| disagree | 7% |
Jewish citizens of Israel have a greater right to influence the direction of the country than its non-Jewish citizens. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 42% |
| disagree | 48% |
The Government of Israel should negotiate with Hamas in its efforts to achieve peace. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 42% |
| disagree | 42% |
I would be prepared to support some sanctions against Israel if I thought they would encourage the Israeli government to engage in the peace process. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 24% |
| disagree | 66% |
Israel's standing in the world is being damaged by its current approach to the peace process. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 73% |
| disagree | 13% |
Of those who answered "yes" to the previous question, is your opinion of Jews better or worse? (ADL, February 2009)
| worse | 66% |
Is your opinion of Jews influenced by actions taken by the State of Israel? (ADL, February 2009)
| yes | 20% |
Of those who answered "yes" to the previous question, is your opinion of Jews better or worse? (ADL, February 2009)
| worse | 66% |
In your opinion, is the violence directed against Jews in the U.K. a result of anti-Jewish feelings or a result of anti-Israel sentiment? (ADL, July 2007; ADL, February 2009)
| 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | |
| anti-Israel sentiment | 33% | 34% | 26% |
| anti-Jewish feelings | 24% | 27% | 30% |
Do you think your government is doing enough to ensure the safety and security of its Jewish citizens? (ADL, July 2007; ADL, February 2009)
| July 2007 | February 2009 | |
| Yes | 53% | 46% |
| No | 24% | 23% |
Percent of Britains with unfavorable views toward Jews. (Pew Global Attitudes Project, September 3, 2008)
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Unfavorable | 9% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 9% |
Would you say that Israel is an open and democratic society? (ADL, July 2007)
| 2005 | 2007 | |
| Yes | 38% | 45% |
| No | 33% | 32% |
Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly opopse efforts by UK-based organizations to boycott Israel over its treatment of the Palestinians? (ADL, July 2007)
| Strongly + somewhat SUPPORT | 42% |
| Strongly + somewhat OPPOSE | 37% |
| Don't know | 20% |
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement: "American Jews control U.S. Middle Eastern policy"? (ADL, July 2007)
| agree | 34% |
| disagree | 38% |
Thinking generally about Israel, would you say that your viws are very favorable, fairly favorable, neither favorable nor unfavorable, fairly unfavorable, or very unfavorable? (ADL, July 2007)
| 2005 | 2007 | |
| "very" or "fairly" FAVORABLE | 27% | 30% |
| "very" or "fairly" UNFAVORABLE | 22% | 20% |
The percentage of respondents considered to harbor anti-Semitic attitudes based on responses to the ADL's index of questions (ADL, April 2004)
| 2002 | 18% |
| 2004 | 24% |
Percent responding "probably true" to each statement (ADL, April 2004; ADL, February 2009)
| 2002 | 2004 | 2009 | |
| Jews don't care what happens to anyone but their own kind | 10% | 18% | -- |
| Jews are more willing to use shady practices to get what they want | 11% | 13% | -- |
| Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country | 34% | 40% | 37% |
| Jews have too much power in the business world | 21% | 20% | 15% |
| Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust | 23% | 31% | 20% |
| Jews have too much power in international financial markets | -- | -- | 15% |
| The Jews are responsible for the death of Christ | -- | -- | 19% |
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement? "Our government should monitor and publicly report on crimes committed against people solely because of their race, ethnicity or religion." (ADL, April 2004)
| Strongly + somewhat AGREE | 65% |
| Strongly + somewhat DISAGREE | 29% |
In your opinion, is it very important, somewhat important, somewhat unimportant or not at all important for our government to take a role in combating anti-Semitism in our counrty? (ADL, April 2004)
| Strongly + somewhat AGREE | 83% |
| Strongly + somewhat DISAGREE | 9% |
On the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict top
Israel was entitled to respond with military action to Hamas rocket attacks and infiltration tunnels. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 93% |
| disagree | 5% |
If the Palestinians want peace they must recognise Israel as a Jewish state, not just recognise Israel's right to exist. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 70% |
| disagree | 18% |
A “two state solution” is the only way Israel will achieve peace with its neighbours in the Middle East. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 71% |
| disagree | 16% |
Israel is an occupying power in the West Bank. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 53% |
| disagree | 29% |
Israel should give up teritory in exchange for guarantees of peace with the Palestinians. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 62% |
| disagree | 25% |
The Palestinians have no legitimate claim to a land of their own. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 14% |
| disagree | 72% |
The expansion of settlements on the West Bank is a major obstacle to peace. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 75% |
| disagree | 14% |
If the Palestinians want peace they must recognise Israel as a Jewish state, not just recognise Israel’s right to exist. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 70% |
| disagree | 18% |
Peace negotiations are pointless as long as incitement against Israel is taught in Palestinian schools. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 63% |
| disagree | 30% |
There is no credible Palestinian partner for Israel to make peace with. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 60% |
| disagree | 24% |
Palestinian efforts to get international recognition for a State of Palestine damage the peace process. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 41% |
| disagree | 35% |
Most Palestinians do not want peace with Israel . (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 41% |
| disagree | 38% |
The Israeli government is constantly creating obstacles to avoid engaging in peace negotiations. (Yachad, November 2015)
| agree | 47% |
| disagree | 32% |
Now thinking about last summer's conflict in Gaza, which ONE of the following comes closest to your reaction to Israel's military action? (Yachad, November 2015)
| Israel was entitled to respond with military action to the Hamas rocket attacks and infiltration tunnels, and the scale of the response was proportionate | 56% |
| Israel was entitled to respond with military action to the Hamas rocket attacks and infiltration tunnels, but the scale of the response was disproportionate | 37% |
| Israel was not entitled to respond with military action | 5% |
| None of the above | 3% |
There has been a lot of news coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. How closely have you been following this coverage? (ADL, July 2007)
| A great deal + A good amount | 31% |
| A little + Not at all | 69% |
Given what you know about the group Hamas, do you consider it to be a terrorist organization or legitimate nationalist movement? (ADL, July 2007)
| Terror Organization | 48% |
| Legitimate Nationalist Movement | 17% |
In your opinion, does Hamas want to destroy Israel? (ADL, July 2007)
| yes | 50% |
In your opinion, does Israel want to destroy the Palestinian people? (ADL, July 2007)
| yes | 38% |
Please tell me whether you agree a lot, a little, disagree a little or a lot with the following statement: "Israel truly wants to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians." (ADL, July 2007)
| 2005 | 2007 | |
| Agree | 57% | 54% |
| Disagree | 17% | 24% |
Please tell me whether you agree a lot, a little, disagree a little or a lot with the following statement: "The Palestinian Authority truly wants to reach a peace agreement with Israel." (ADL, July 2007)
| 2005 | 2007 | |
| Agree | 56% | 48% |
| Disagree | 16% | 28% |
The Palestinian Authority truly wants to reach a peace agreement with Israel. (ADL, April 2004)
| Agree | 47% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 10% |
| Disagree | 31% |
Israel truly wants to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians. (ADL, April 2004)
| Agree | 49% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 12% |
| Disagree | 29% |
Thinking specifically about the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip - are your sympathies more with the Israelis or more with the Palestinians? (ADL, June 27, 2002; ADL, April 2004; ADL, July 2007)
| 2002 | 2004 | 2005 | 2007 | |
| Israelis | 13% | 18% | 14% | 18% |
| Palestinians | 30% | 24% | 27% | 32% |
| Neither | 27% | 33% | -- | 27% |
| Both | 17% | 14% | -- | 11% |
| Don't know | 11% | 10% | -- | -- |
The data indicates that the more familiar respondents are with Muslims the more likely they are to be sympathetic to the Palestinians. (ADL, June 27, 2002)
| Overall sympathy for Palestinians | 30% |
| Sympathy among those in contact with Muslims "very often" | 32% |
| Sympathy among those in contact with Muslims "fairly often" | 34% |
Respondents who say they "never come in contact with Muslims" are more sympathetic with Israel. (ADL, June 27, 2002)
| Overall sympathy for Israelis | 13% |
| Sympathy for Israelis among those who "never come in contact with Muslims" | -- |
How often do you follow the media coverage? (ADL, June 27, 2002)
| Sympathize with Israelis | Sympathize with Palestinians | |
| Good deal + good amount | 11% | 41% |
| A little + nothing at all | 15% | 18% |
| Total | 13% | 30% |
Attitudes toward Iran top
Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, somewhat unconcerned or not at all concerned about Iran developing nuclear weapons? (ADL, July 2007)
| very + somewhat CONCERNED | 88% |
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 of nuclear energy? (ADL, July 2007)
| nuclear weapons | 49% |
| weapons and energy | 16% |
| nuclear energy | 17% |
Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose imposing economic sanctions against Iran until it agrees to suspend its nuclear program? (ADL, July 2007)
| Support | 53% |
| Oppose | 35% |
Regarding Hezbollah and the 2006 Lebanon War top
Given what you know about the Hezbollah, do you consider it to be a terrorist organization or legitimate nationalist movement? (ADL, July 2007)
| Terror Organization | 48% |
| Legitimate Nationalist Movement | 14% |
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 soldiers. Do you think that Israel had a right to use military force against Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon in response to this attack? (ADL, July 2007)
| Yes | 52% |
| No | 33% |
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