One in Three Spaniards is Anti-Semitic

A new poll by the Spanish government released on the eve of Rosh Hashanah in Madrid shows that one in three Spaniards is anti-Semitic, maintaining negative opinions about Jews. Another 46 percent had favorable views of Jews.

One in nine Spaniards, the survey found, supports the statement that "Israel should disappear because it was established on Arab land." Another 77 percent disagree with the statement. The results of the study indicate that the major cause of the rise in anti-Semitic feelings is Israel's policy toward the Palestinians in the territories.

Anti-Israel protesters in Barcelona last year.

The study follows poll results from 2008 and 2009 conducted by the Anti-Defamation League and the Pew Research Center showing that close to half of all Spaniards at the time held anti-Semitic views. The two polls designated Spain an anti-Semitic country after finding that more than 35 percent of its citizens held anti-Jewish views. Ironically, however, in the most recent poll, 34.6 percent of respondents expressed anti-Semitic views, thereby barely escaping the anti-Semitic label according to that criterion. At an event at which the new findings were released, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos said the poll showed Spanish society is not anti-Semitic or anti-Israel.

The new poll, in which about 1,000 Spanish residents were questioned by phone, was conducted by the Madrid-based Casa Sefarad-Israel (Spain-Israel House ), which is affiliated with the Spanish Foreign Ministry and promotes ties between Spain and Israel and world Jewry. The survey was conducted in April, before the Israel Navy's confrontation at the end of May with the Gaza-bound flotilla.

Anti-Semitic sentiment exists in Spain despite the absence of a sizable Jewish community in the country since the Spanish Inquisition at the end of the 15th century. Some 40,000 Jews currently live in the county of 40 million.

Senior Spanish government officials sought to soften the impact of the poll results, noting that 54 percent of respondents hold negative views toward Muslims. About 1.5 million Muslims live in Spain. .

Only Iran was viewed less favorably than Israel in the poll results. Moratinos and leaders of the Spanish Jewish community attributed the rise in anti-Semitic sentiment in Spain to the anti-Israel stance of most of the Spanish media. In contrast, however, 67 percent of respondents equally blamed Israel and the Palestinians for the conflict between them, and about 83 percent said Jews are entitled to live in peace and security in Israel once its borders are recognized by the international community.

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One cannot expect Europeans to abate their irrational hatred against Jews. This is one (luckily one of many) cornerstones of their culture based on the diatomic view: God against the devil. Europeans need an embodiment of evil to exist. Since St. Augustine, Jews were the embodiment of evil for Catholics and Martin Luther carried it on to Protestantism (literary Jews speak for the devil). Russian orthodox church refuses to take off its morning prayer “ Let God exterminate all Jews”. Anti-Semitism was, is and will be the indivisible part of Europe dominating its relation to Jews. The very existence of the State of Israel gets their blood boiling.

I´m a Spaniard and I can believe this poll. I´m a supporter of Israel, like many people around here, but the media are quite the opposite especially leftish newspapers. This friendship towards Israel and the Jews, does not mean I support all the policies of Israel, there are very thorny issues like the settlelments. I hope you´ll find the way to live peacefully with the Arabs.

I find it unnecessary for Israelis to worry about the increasing anti-semitism in countries which can inflict no damage to Israel. If antisemitism increases in US, then yes, this might present soe problems but Spain for god's sake !! Turkey is also becoming anti-semite, what damage can Turkey do to Israel ? Why worry ? Israel is a super-power which can destroy Turkey with its nuclear weapons, no ?

Spanish people are mostly niave and very suseptable to the prevailing winds. They have never been in the forefront of anything progressive and even failed dismally in the struggle against the fascist Franco, and kept well away when it really mattered in the fight against Hitler Just for this reason their opinions are not really worth considering.. Spain is a nice holiday resort.

another straw-man argument that equates anti-zionism with anti-semitism. being against zionist political ideology does not mean being against jews.

In most of the western countries - the people hate Israel - its policies and so the Jews as Israel is synonymous with Jews. Do a poll in France, Germany, England, Portugal, Belgium or anywhere even in USA I am sure 7 out of 10 people will vote against the Jews. The laws of the lands are holding them from openly showing predujice against us. In USA the Islamophobia is a passing thing - when the tide turns and Jews will become victim - I am worried about that day. USA or rather Americans can't or won't be able to do any thing much to moslems- they are 1.7 Billion and in 20 years they will be more than christians. What about us - we are 13.5 million - in one sweep - we will again be history. what can be done to stem the tide of Anti zionism and not anti semitism i woudl say is - make peace - go back to 67 borders - divide Jerusalem - have real borders and live a peacful life with the respect of the world. As long as this problem which has taken almost 2 generations of us is not going to end on its own. IDF is not all powerful anymore - Lebanon war 2 years ago is the proof - and now our neighbors are more stronger than before. They are ready to die where as we don't and we can't - So Wake up and give serious thought to this poll and do not please do not ignore it.

That should make Spain one of the least anti-semitic countries on the face of the earth! G'd I wish the same ratio be everywhere else!!!!

Haaretz writes: "Moratinos and leaders of the Spanish Jewish community attributed the rise in anti-Semitic sentiment in Spain to the anti-Israel stance of most of the Spanish media." I.e., reporting the facts on a brutal, illegal, 43-year occupation, you mean.