US Jews Blame Israeli Policy for Antisemitism Rise, Poll Finds

A significant gap has emerged between American Jews and Israelis regarding the connection between Israeli government policy and the rise in global antisemitism, according to the JPPI's "Voice of the Jewish People" index for September 2023. The poll revealed that 39% of American Jews surveyed believe Israel's policies significantly contribute to the increase in antisemitism, a notable jump from 31% in September of the previous year. An additional 35% see some contribution from Israeli policies, while only 23% reject any connection, down from 32% last year.

In stark contrast, the situation in Israel appears almost reversed. According to the institute's "Israeli Society" index, 44% of Israelis deny any link between government policy and antisemitism, with only 28% attributing a significant contribution to it. This divergence extends to proposed solutions, with 28% of American Jews advocating for substantial changes in Israeli policy, compared to just 17% of Israelis. Conversely, a majority of Israelis (57%) oppose any policy changes, while 37% of American Jews hold the same view.

The index, which reflects the views of American Jews with strong community ties, also examined national sentiment ahead of Rosh Hashanah. While 43% of Israelis are optimistic about their country's future, only 19% of American Jews share this optimism. However, pessimism among Diaspora Jews has slightly decreased, with 25% believing Israel is on a downward trajectory, a figure similar to Israel's own and an improvement from 38% last year.

Within the US, political affiliation significantly influences views on Israel's future. A large majority of staunch conservatives (51%) are optimistic, while only 4% of liberals share this sentiment, with half of them fearing a decline. Despite these policy disagreements, a strong cultural connection persists through language, with half of American Jews knowing hundreds of Hebrew words. Hebrew proficiency is particularly high among those who have lived in Israel and within Orthodox and Haredi communities.

JPPI President Professor Yedidya Stern commented on the findings, stating, "The index illustrates that the connection between Israel and Diaspora Jewry is not one-dimensional. The conclusion is that one must know how to distinguish between criticism of government policy and the degree of connection, affinity, and commitment to Israel and Jewish identity."