24% of Americans now hold ‘antisemitic’ beliefs, up from 20% in 2022 according to a new survey by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The survey was conducted over a two-week period in January 2024 in the aftermath of October 7th and Israel’s war on Gaza.
Context: The survey measures ‘antisemitism’ by polling Americans on their agreement with 14 different “anti-Jewish tropes”. The survey found that a majority of Americans endorsed at least two anti-Jewish tropes.
- Just under 24% of Americans endorsed 6 or more anti-Jewish tropes of the original 11 statements from the ADL Index, up from 20% in 2022
- The overall average number of anti-Jewish tropes endorsed by Americans also increased from 4.18 to 4.31 out of 14 polled in total.
Changing Face: In a reversal of past trends, younger Americans are more likely to endorse anti-Jewish tropes, with millennials agreeing with the greatest number of anti-Jewish tropes on average, at 5.4. They’re followed by Gen Z at 5, Gen X at 4.2, and Baby Boomers at 3.1.
- Millennials agree with the greatest number of anti-Jewish tropes on average, at 5.4. They’re followed by Gen Z at 5, Gen X at 4.2, and Baby Boomers at 3.1.
- People without any friends/family that dislike Jews endorse the fewest tropes. Those with some family/friends that dislike Jews agree with a similar number of tropes as those with all family/friends who dislike Jews.
Israel: A growing number of Americans hold anti-Israel positions in the wake of October 7th and the war in Gaza.
- Over 40% of Americans think that Israelis intend to cause maximal suffering to the Palestinians.
- Additionally, a third of all Americans believe Israeli operatives are manipulating US national policy.
- Support for the termination of Israel has rapidly grown among younger generations with 12.2% and 16.6% of Millennials and Gen Z supporting it.
The Conversation: ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt has continued to take fire for his controversial handling of the ADL’s operations, accused of heavy-handed censorship and pro-Israel bias in reporting. He called the poll a “terrifying concern,” which requires “more solutions.”
- “After decades of antisemitism mostly keeping to the fringes of society, it is shocking to see the number of Americans who openly hold antisemitic beliefs increase so significantly in recent years”
- “The sharp reversal, from older generations to younger generations being more likely to hold antisemitic beliefs, is a terrifying concern for our future. The need for better solutions is more urgent than ever – before this dangerous momentum keeps growing.”