As anti-Semitic attacks spread worldwide, a new poll finds that a substantial number of Europeans believe that Jews exert “too much influence” and that the memory of the Holocaust is fading, especially among younger generations.
The CNN/ComRes poll, which interviewed 7,092 Europeans across seven countries, specifically found that 28 percent said Jews have excessive influence in business and finance across the world; 22 percent said Jews have too much influence in political affairs; and 20 percent said they have too much influence in the media. The idea of Jews exerting too much power over institutions has been at the root of anti-Semitism for centuries.
Meanwhile, Europeans are beginning to forget the Holocaust, in which six million European Jews were slaughtered.
One third of Europeans said they knew little or nothing about the Holocaust; among those ages 18 to 34, the number approaches four in ten.
Furthermore, 31 percent of Europeans agreed that “Jewish people use the Holocaust to advance their position or to achieve certain goals” — and just 33 percent disagreed with the statement.
In Europe, where attacks on synagogues, kosher markets, and Jews wearing kippas have become common, anti-Semitism is often excused merely as criticism of Israel. Last year, a German court ruled that the attempted firebombing of a synagogue was merely an expression of protest against Israeli actions in Gaza.
The poll found that among Europeans, just 18 percent had a favorable view of Israel, compared to 36 percent who had an unfavorable view.
