- A new form of anti-Semitism has taken hold in Europe,
fuelled by anti-Israeli sentiment, according to a survey which shows almost
one in three Europeans now harbours some anti-Jewish feelings.
Attitudes towards Jews vary across the five countries surveyed with Belgians,
Germans and the French "most likely to hold a prejudiced view of Jews".
Denmark and the UK are said to be the least prejudiced. But attitudes in
the UK show a worryingly high level of anti-Semitic sentiment.
The findings of 2,500 people polled - 500 in each country - show 30 per
cent harboured traditional anti-Jewish views. The survey was commissioned
by the Anti-Defamation League, a US-based organisation set up just before
the First World War to combat anti-Semitism in the US.
Those polled were each read out four statements containing stereotypical
anti-Semitic sentiments. The numbers who thought the statements "probably
true" varied from country to country but were still very high.
One in five Britons believes Jews have too much power in the business
world. More than 10 per cent of those surveyed in the UK believed Jews
are "more willing to use shady practices to get what they want".
One in 10 believes "Jews don't care what happens to anyone but their
own kind" while one in three considers "Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country".
Fiona Macaulay of the Board of Deputies of British Jews said: "These
findings are shocking. If one was to substitute the word Jew for black
there would be outrage."
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=310541
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