Brits turn their backs on Israel boycotts
A dramatic rise in opposition to boycotts of Israel among the British public is revealed in a new survey published today.
Justin Cohen is the News Editor at the Jewish News
A Populus opinion poll, commissioned by Israel and Middle East think tank BICOM, shows more than half of the 2,050 respondents are against “singling out” Israel with boycotts.
The numbers show that 51 percent of respondents “do not boycott Israeli goods,” an eight percent rise when compared to figures from a similar poll in October 2015.
Similarly, 56 percent thought that Israel boycotts “hurt both Palestinians and Israelis” – nine percent more than 2015.
“Our poll shows a very significant shift against the idea of boycotting Israel,” said BICOM chief executive James Sorene.
“The British sense of fair play is a clear theme in the poll as time and again respondents reject singling out Israel, given everything else going on in the world.”
Of those surveyed, 48 percent felt that “hating Israel and questioning its right to exist” was “anti-Semitic,” with 45 percent of Muslim respondents agreeing with that statement, while only 20 percent thought otherwise.
Elsewhere, some 57 percent said simply criticising Israel was not in itself anti-Semitic.
Interestingly, in the week of the 99th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, 43 percent also said they agreed with Britain’s then-foreign secretary Lord Balfour, who wrote in support of a Jewish homeland in historic Palestine in 1917. This figure was up from 40 percent last year.
In addition, 57 percent of respondents felt that Israel was Britain’s ally, the highest percentage for any Middle Eastern country. Again, this figure was higher than in 2015, with a five percent increase.
“The judgement of the British people is stark,” said Sorene. “They understand that hating Israel and questioning its right to exist is pure anti-Semitism.”
Israel’s ambassador to the UK Mark Regev commented on the BICOM poll: “Today’s results affirm the strong ties between our two countries. It is encouraging that more than ever, Britons view Israel as their strongest ally in the region. Equally important, most people correctly believe that demonization of Israel is in fact anti-Semitic, and must not be tolerated”.
Joan Ryan MP, Chair of Labour Friends of Israel, said: “This poll underlines that the boycott movement, which is morally wrong and economically damaging, does not speak for the British people. It is a powerful signal that this country rejects the attempt to delegitimise and demonise the state of Israel, and recognises the anti-Semitism which underlies such attitudes.”
Simon Johnson, Chief Executive of the Jewish Leadership Council said: “The findings of this report are positive and encouraging. The move in opinion against BDS demonstrates the work of various organisations to better inform the British public about the ongoing situation in the middle-east. Research like this is important in uncovering true public opinion which is often misrepresented across the UK.
I hope that this study acts as a foundation from which we can build on when looking to further educate on Israel issues in the future.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.