A new survey has found that 34% of young Britons believe that Israel treats the Palestinians like the Nazis treated the Jews.
The poll, commissioned by the pro-Israel Campaign Against Antisemitism and conducted by YouGov, found that overall more Britons agreed (30%) with this statement than disagreed (27%), with the percentage of agreement increasing for those aged 18-24.
The survey also found that young Britons are more likely than their older compatriots to have negative views about Israel and Israel supporters.
For example, it found that:
- 28% of young people believe Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on our democracy.
- 21% of young people are uncomfortable spending time with people who openly support Israel.
- 11% of young people do not believe that Israel has a right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people.
- 28% of young people believe that Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on our democracy.
The online survey’s sample size was 2,084 adults and views were canvassed between December 8-11, 2023. The figures were weighted and are representative of all GB adults aged 18+.
A large proportion of respondents were non-committal about many of the questions, but overall the poll showed that a majority of Britons have pro-Israel views and are tolerant of Jewish people. And this remains the case even for younger people.
For example, the poll found that:
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- 66% agreed that Jewish people are just as loyal to Britain as other British people.
- 46% disagreed that compared to other groups, Jewish people have too much power in the media.
- 62% disagreed that Jewish people talk about the Holocaust just to further their political agenda.
- 56% agreed that Israel has a right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people.
The poll was conducted several months into Israel’s war on Gaza. The current death toll in Gaza stands at 26,751 and 65,636 others wounded since October 7, 2023.
The International Court of Justice has found that there is a plausible case that Israel is committing genocide and has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure that this does not continue.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The rhetoric that we are seeing online, on television and on our streets is radicalising the British public, but it is the rates of antisemitism that we have discovered among 18-24 year olds that are most frightening. This is generation hate…
“Our education is failing the next generation, and our society is suffering as a result. It is British Jews who are paying the price.”
