Israelis View France, Spain as Most Antisemitic in Europe

A recent survey conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals a significant shift in Israeli perceptions of Europe, with France and Spain now considered the most antisemitic countries on the continent. The "Europe Barometer 2026" study found that 54% of Israelis surveyed identified France as a highly antisemitic nation, with an equal percentage naming Spain. The United Kingdom was cited by 29% of respondents.

The study, which surveyed 502 individuals from the general Israeli population, 250 Israeli Arabs, and 251 ultra-Orthodox Israelis, also indicated a growing distance between Israel and Europe since the October 7th attacks. Among Jewish Israelis, 48% reported a strengthening of their Israeli identity over the past three years, while only 10% felt it weakened. In contrast, 37% of Israeli Arabs surveyed felt their sense of belonging to Israel had weakened.

Overall, 71% of Israelis believe Israel is a safer place for Jews than Europe, a view shared by only 25% of French respondents, 27% of Germans, 24% of Britons, and 35% of Poles. Pessimism about the future of Jewish communities in Europe is also rising, with 69% of Israelis expecting their situation to worsen, up from 53% in 2022.

Furthermore, Israelis increasingly see their nation as culturally and politically aligned with the Middle East rather than Europe. Forty-two percent now consider Israel closer to the Middle East, while only 18% view it as a European country. Perceptions of the European Union have also declined sharply, with only 27% of Israelis viewing it as a success, compared to 57% in 2022.

Despite these negative views, Germany was identified as the European country closest to Israel by 43% of respondents, followed by Hungary (37%) and Poland (21%). The survey was conducted by the Kantar institute, with 1,000 participants interviewed in each of the four European countries studied: France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The margin of error was reported as 3.1%.