Sour Sentiments: Germany's Crankier Outlook on Israel Unveiled
Growing Criticism Towards Israel Among Germans Gains Momentum
In a striking contradiction to Israelis' generally rosy view of Germany and its governance, a new survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation reveals that a significant number of Germans have developed a more critical stance toward Israel.
Flashback to 2021, and 46% of German respondents held a positive view of Israel. Fast-forward to 2025, and this number has dropped to a mere 36%, whilst the negative views have soared to 38%. On the flip side, an astounding 60% of Israelis have a positive or very positive impression of Germany.
The Israeli government, however, garners 59% negative views in Germany, while it's a completely different story for the German government, which only garners 17% negative views in Israel. A staggering 68% of Israelis yearn for closer cooperation between the two nations, but only 24% of Germans share this sentiment.
The Rise of Anti-Semitism: When Hatred Creeps In
Anti-Semitic beliefs, such as the notion that Jewish influence is overbearing, have hit a shocking high of 27%. Four years ago, this figure stood at 24%. Moreover, 29% of Germans agree that Israeli policies make Jews less sympathetic toward them, with the % rising from 14 to 28% among those under 40.
Stephan Vopel, Israel expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation, cautions, "Anti-Semitism is not a rare incidence in Germany, but manifests in various social circles and political groups."
History, particularly the Holocaust, continues to be a cornerstone influencing the perceptions of both Germans and Israelis 80 years since the war. However, more Israelis view this past as significant than Germans. While 32% of Germans reject moving on from the past, a whopping 62% of Israelis do.
Education, Politics, and Perception: A Divided Landscape
The survey exhibits notable differences based on education level. A mere 25% of respondents with a low education level reject moving on from the Holocaust, compared to 41% among the more educated.
Political inclinations also play a significant role. In the survey, a staggering 63% of AfD supporters believe it's time to draw a line under the past, compared to a meagre 14% of Green Party supporters.
Interestingly, 64% of Israelis believe that Germany has a special responsibility towards both the Jewish people and the State of Israel. In stark contrast, only about one-third of Germans surveyed feel this responsibility toward the Jewish people, and even fewer, around one-fourth, feel it towards the State of Israel.
This representative survey, conducted between February 24 and March 25, 2025, interviewed 1,346 adults in Germany and 1,367 in Israel on behalf of the Bertelsmann Foundation[6].
Bonus Insights:
- Military Actions and Humanitarian Concerns: The deteriorating relationship between Israel and Germany can be partially attributed to ongoing military conflicts, with many Germans viewing Israel's tactics as overly aggressive and detrimental to civilians.
- Political Pressure and Public Opinion: The German government's strong support for Israel has faced increasing scrutiny, with a majority of Germans opposing arms exports to Israel and advocating for a more balanced approach to Middle East conflicts.
- Historical Context and Guilt: Germany's historical responsibility for the Holocaust and its complex relationship with Israel play a role in the shift in sentiment. However, recent events have led some Germans to question whether historical guilt justifies unwavering support for Israel's actions.
- Anti-Semitic Attitudes: Anti-Semitic sentiments, though not directly addressed in the survey, likely intertwine with criticisms of Israel in public discourse, contributing to the increased negativity in German perspectives on Israel[7][8].
Sources:[1] ntv.de[2] toh/dpa[3] Yahoo News[4] The Jerusalem Post[5] Deutsche Welle[6] ntv.de, toh/dpa[7] Foreign Policy[8] The New York Times
- The community policy of Germany shows a divergence, as there has been a significant decrease in positive views of Israel from 46% in 2021 to 36% in 2025, while a high of 60% of Israelis have positive impressions of Germany.
- Cooperation between Israel and Germany is highly desired by 68% of Israelis, but only 24% of Germans share this preference. This could potentially impact diplomatic relations and general-news discourse.
- The employment policy of the Israeli government yields 59% negative views in Germany, while the German government, in comparison, garners only 17% negative views in Israel.
- While 62% of Israelis wish to move on from the past, only 32% of Germans feel the same, signifying different preferences in addressing historical issues, such as the Holocaust, that have a profound impact on both nations' politics and perceptions of each other.
