A Shift in Perception: Germans Grow Increasingly Critical of Israel According to Survey
Growing dissatisfaction among Germans towards Israel's policies and actions.
Here's the deal: Over the past four years, Germans' view of Israel has taken a turn for the worse. Many Germans now hold a negative opinion of the Israeli government, and anti-Semitic attitudes have unfortunately escalated - particularly among the young 'uns.
On the other hand, the Israelis have a pretty positive image of Germany and its government, according to a recent survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation. Unlike the Germans, Israelis' view of Germany has remained largely favorable.
But here's the kicker: There's a massive divide in mutual perception, and German anti-Semitism seems to be on the rise. Nearly a third of Germans now hold anti-Semitic views, up from 24% four years ago. And guess what? Younger folks are more likely to support these views.
By the numbers, 36% of Germans have a positive opinion of Israel, compared to 46% four years ago. Meanwhile, 60% of Israelis have a good or very good image of Germany. Go figure.
Interestingly, 59% of Germans have a negative view of the Israeli government, compared to just 17% of Israelis who view the German government negatively. Over two-thirds of Israelis would like to see closer cooperation between the two countries, but only a quarter of Germans feel the same way.
The survey also reveals that anti-Semitic attitudes, such as claims of Jewish influence, have reached a record high of 27%. And, it's not just older folks - younger generations also support these views.
So, what's going on here? Experts at the Bertelsmann Foundation say that anti-Semitism is not a minor issue in Germany. It's present in various social circles and political groups.
The history of the Holocaust still shapes the views of both Germans and Israelis, 80 years after the war. But in Israel, more folks place importance on keeping the memory alive than in Germany.
Here's the catch: Gaps in education levels and political affiliations also reveal significant divides. For example, those with higher education are more likely to reject drawing a line under the Holocaust, while those with lower education are less likely to do so.
What's more, party affiliation plays a role: A majority of AfD supporters want to draw a line under the past, compared to only a small percentage of Green Party supporters.
On a brighter note, 64% of Israelis believe that Germany bears a unique responsibility towards both the Jewish people and the State of Israel, while only a third of Germans feel the same way about the Jewish people, and barely a quarter feel it about the State of Israel.
This survey, conducted in 2025, interviewed 1,346 adults in Germany and 1,367 in Israel between February 24 and March 25, 2025. Sources: ntv.de, toh/dpa
P.S. Let's not forget: as anti-Semitic attitudes increase, the risk of hate crimes against Jews also rises. It's important to confront and combat anti-Semitism wherever it rears its ugly head.
- The survey, conducted in 2025, revealed a significant increase in anti-Semitic views among Germans, with nearly a third (34%) of Germans now holding such views, compared to 24% four years ago.
- The community policy within the German-Israeli relationship reveals a divide, as 59% of Germans have a negative view of the Israeli government, while over two-thirds (60%) of Israelis have a good or very good image of Germany.
- In contrast to the general-news and crime-and-justice sentiments, the employment policies show a positive image of Germany among Israelis, as 60% have a good or very good image, whereas the German view of Israeli employment policies is not specified in the given text.
- The sentiment towards politics as a whole in the German-Israeli association differs notably, as 64% of Israelis believe that Germany bears a unique responsibility towards both the Jewish people and the State of Israel, while only a third (33%) of Germans feel the same about the Jewish people, and fewer still (25%) about the State of Israel.
