Germany: 18 Percent of Germans Distrust Jews

According to a census by the University of Leipzig commissioned by the social-democratic Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation, 18 percent of the Germans were found to distrust Jews.

Antisemitic stereotypes are especially widespread in southern parts of Germany. In Bavaria 16, 6 % of the interviewees hold antisemitic views. Followed by Baden-Wuertemberg (13, 3 %), Thuringia (12 ,9 %) and North Rhine-Westphalia (9 ,8 % ). In Saarland only 1 ,5 % expressed antisemitic positions.

18 percent of the national population believes that Jewish influence is too large. 15 % of the interviewees agree with the thesis that Jews use nastier tricks than “others” to achieve their goals; approximately as many believe that Jews are idiosyncratic by nature and therefore don’t “fit in”. 2500 people were polled in the census.

The study itself can be found here: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung – “Bewegung in der Mitte”.

Sources: Tagesspiegel, 11-27-2008, Spiegel Online 11-27-2008

---