Anti-Semitism in Europe on the rise

Haaretz:  Anti-Semitic attitudes in ten European countries remain at “disturbingly high levels,” according to a new poll from the Anti-Defamation League, released on Tuesday.

In France, where on Monday a shooting at a Jewish school resulted in the death of three children and a teacher, the overall level of anti-Semitism increased to 24 percent of the population, up from to 20 percent in 2009.
anti-Semitism in Europe AP 

The poll finds that 45% of the French believe French Jews are more loyal to Israel than to France; 35% believe that Jews have too much power in the business world; 29% believe Jews hold too much power over the world’s international financial markets; and 35% believe Jews talk about the Holocaust too much.

“France has seen an increase in the level of anti-Semitism…all the more disturbing in light of the shooting attack at the Jewish school in Toulouse,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

Out of the countries surveyed, the most anti-Semitic is Hungary, were 63 percent harbor anti-Semitic sentiments, up from 47 percent in 2009.

In Spain, 53 percent of the population expressed anti-Semitic attitudes, and in Poland 48 percent did.

The levels in Austria and Germany were lower, with 28 percent and 21 percent, respectively.

In the United Kingdom, the levels were lower, but compared to the rates in 2009 a sharp rise was revealed. While the survey found 10 percent of the population held anti-Semitic attitudes in 2009, 17 percent do today.

“The survey is disturbing by the fact that anti-Semitism remains at high levels across the continent and infects many Europeans at a much higher level than we see here in the United States,” Foxman said. “In Hungary, Spain and Poland the numbers for anti-Semitic attitudes are literally off-the-charts and demand a serious response from political, civic and religious leaders.”