Growing Criticism Towards Israel by Germans Gains Momentum
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A fresh analysis by the Bertelsmann Foundation discloses an increasingly critical view of Israel among Germans compared to previous years. Conversely, the Israeli public predominantly maintains a favorable stance towards Germany and its administration.
The shift in attitude since the last survey in 2021 is unmistakable. In the previous poll, 46 percent of German participants sympathized positively with Israel. Now, that number has dwindled to 36 percent, while a troubling 38 percent exhibit negative sentiments. In contrast, 60 percent of Israelis express warmth toward Germany.
To compound matters, antisemitic inclinations, such as belief in Jewish influence, reached an all-time high in years, according to the Bertelsmann Foundation. Nearly one in four Germans espouse this viewpoint (27 percent). Furthermore, 29 percent of respondents feel that Israel's actions drive people to view them less sympathetically, demonstrating an unnerving trend—especially among the young, where agreement has surged from 14 to 28 percent among those under 40.
"Antisemitism is not a fringe issue in Germany, but it can be found across various social circles and political affiliations," stresses Stephan Vopel, an Israel expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation.
As we grapple with the past, the Holocaust's enduring influence on the perspectives of Germans and Israelis remains palpable, 80 years following the end of World War II. However, more Israelis (62 percent) than Germans (32 percent) express the desire to draw a line under the past.
Uncover more in-depth insights through the official Bertelsmann Foundation website or their specialized reports on societal matters, where information related to German viewpoints towards Israel and antisemitism may be found. The current sources, however, do not contain this specific data.
- The Bertelsmann Foundation's latest analysis reveals a significant divergence in attitudes between Germans and Israelis concerning Israel, with a drop in positive views among Germans from 46% in 2021 to 36%, while 60% of Israelis express positive sentiments towards Germany.
- The employment policy of the German community and the Israeli community seems to be influenced by their political attitudes, as negative sentiments towards Israel have increased among Germans, with 38% displaying such attitudes compared to 27% who believe in Jewish influence.
- The Bertelsmann Foundation's survey also reveals a troubling trend among Germans under 40, where 28% now agree that Israel's actions are driving people to view them less sympathetically, compared to just 14% in the previous survey.
- Stephan Vopel, an Israel expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation, emphasizes that antisemitism is not confined to fringe elements in Germany, but is found across various social circles and political affiliations.
