Only a quarter of the German population believe that the EU should intensify the measures taken to eradicate anti-Semitism across the continent. 39% of Germans believe that the current measures taken against anti-Semitism today are sufficient and 15% of Germans also believe that there is a need to reduce the activity on the subject, according to the results of a newly-released survey. The survey was commissioned by the European Jewish Association (EJA) in order to monitor changes in European public opinion toward the Jewish community and Israel.

EJA General Director Rabbi Menachem Margolin, who initiated the survey, stated that “the fact that about 40% of the German public does not see a need to engage in anti-Semitic activity is an expression of educational failure in implementing the lessons of the Holocaust”. The overall findings, he added, sadly indicate that “the German public is not aware of the upward trend of anti-Semitic attacks”.

The survey, which was conducted last week by the European Research Institute YouGov from a representative sample of the adult population in Germany, also found that the German public ranks the problem of anti-Semitism only in ninth place out of 10 challenges that European society needs to address. Only 8% of Germans view anti-Semitism as a problem while a double figure of 15% point at anti-Muslim bigotry as a problem that needs to dealt with. Immigration was ranked first (53%), followed by the environment (44%) in second place, with terrorism in third place (42%), according to the survey’s findings.

· All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.

· Total sample size was 1991 adults.

· Fieldwork was undertaken 16th – 18th June 2015.

· The survey was carried out online.

· The figures have been weighted and are representative of all German adults (aged 18+).

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)