74% of UK Jews say 'Israel's' situation is poor: Survey
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An overwhelming 80% of respondents disapproving of Netanyahu's leadership, culminating in a net approval rating of -68%, according to this new survey.
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In this Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 file photo a rabbi arrives at the synagogue Rykestrasse in the district Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin. (AP)
A recent survey conducted by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) has unveiled a stark increase in pessimism among British Jews regarding the current situation in the territories under Israeli occupation, surpassing the dissatisfaction observed among Israelis themselves.
According to the survey results released on Tuesday, a significant 74% of British Jews describe "Israel's" current state as "bad" or "very bad," a noticeable rise from 57% in a survey conducted just over a year ago.
This growing concern has been attributed to a series of recent events, including the October 7 operation, ongoing fighting in Gaza and with Lebanon, and escalating tensions in the West Bank.
The survey, which collected views from 4,641 Jewish adults in the UK between mid-June and mid-July this year, also casts a dim light on perceptions of Israeli political leadership.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in particular, seems to bear the brunt of this disenchantment, with an overwhelming 80% of respondents disapproving of his leadership, culminating in a net approval rating of -68%.
Read more: 62% of Israelis say would not vote for Netanyahu in election
In contrast, centrist opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid received comparatively positive endorsements. Lapid, a former prime minister, appears to be gaining favor among British Jews, with his approval ratings on the rise since the last survey.
"As much as Israel matters to British Jews, many are expressing clear concern about its political leadership. This dissonance is fundamental to understand for a policy perspective – it hints at the evolving nature of British Jewry's relationship with Israel," said Dr. Jonathan Boyd, executive director of JPR.
Jews in the UK hold strong attachments and ties with Israel. Still, as our latest report demonstrates, caring for Israel does not mean the #BritishJews approve of its leadership and direction over the last year. pic.twitter.com/vQbkWL3igB
— Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) (@jprinstitute) September 17, 2024
The survey also highlights demographic variations, with women tending to be more pessimistic than men about "Israel's" situation.
Additionally, Jews who identified as strictly Orthodox and had voted for extremist parties in the last election were more supportive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
These findings point to important differences in perception based on gender and religious orientation within the British Jewish community.
