76% of French people believe that anti-Semitism is a “widespread phenomenon” in France and increasing compared to ten years ago.
A “widespread” and “increasing” phenomenon: this is how anti-Semitism is perceived in France, according to a survey carried out by Ifop for the American Jewish Committee and the Foundation for Political Innovation.
76% of French people believe that anti-Semitism is a “widespread phenomenon”, a figure which rises to 92% among French Jews. These figures amounted to 64 and 85% in 2022. This phenomenon is also “increasing” compared to ten years ago for 77% of French people, and 94% of those of Jewish faith, figures again up compared to 2022.
“The situation is serious (…) the figures are more and more serious” reacted Elie Korchia, president of the Central Consistory of France on RMC this Monday morning, denouncing “a trivialization of anti-Semitism”.
To explain this anti-Semitism, 57% of French people and 73% of Jews questioned put forward “rejection, hatred of Israel”, before “Islamist ideas” for 45% and 56%. These motives are followed by “extreme left ideas”, “competition, conspiracy theories” and “extreme right ideas”.
Also, 21% of survey respondents believe that it is “justified” that French Jews are taken to task because of “their real or supposed support for the Israeli government”. An opinion shared by 35% of those under 25.
Meetings to fight anti-Semitism launched this Monday
Among people of the Jewish faith, the fear of being the victim of an anti-Semitic act has increased since the attack on October 7 and now concerns 86% of those questioned. Moreover, 25% say they have already been the subject of anti-Semitic acts since that date and even 12% say that this has happened on several occasions. A figure which rises to 36% for people who “systematically or regularly” wear distinctive religious symbols.
“The data we discuss can include a wide range of incidents, ranging from derogatory comments on social networks to outright physical attacks,” the investigation specifies.
The results of this study were published at a time when the government is launching a “foundation of the fight against anti-Semitism”. The Minister for the fight against discrimination Aurore Bergé brings together the heads of several associations (Licra, SOS Racisme, etc.) and representatives of the six main religions this Monday morning in Paris to discuss the subject. Witnesses who have been victims of anti-Semitism will also share their experiences.
According to a report from Crif (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France) published in January, the number ofanti-Semitic acts recorded in France jumped last year, to 1,676 compared to 436 in 2022, with an increase of 1000% since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas in Israel.
Sample of 2,003 people representative of the French population, constituted using the quota method, interviewed online from February 29 to March 14, 2024.
Sample of 500 French people declaring themselves Jewish or having at least one parent of Jewish faith or culture, taken from a cumulative sample of 33,200 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over, interviewed by self-questionnaire -administered online from February 12 to March 22, 2024.
