CROSSROADS21: Australians want the swastika banned – surprise findings in The Jewish Independent survey

DASH LAWRENCE: A landmark survey of Australian attitudes to Jews, antisemitism and Israel reveals nuanced sympathies that challenge media cliches  

WHAT DO AUSTRALIANS really think about Jewish people, Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

That’s the question at the heart of The Jewish Independent’s landmark survey Crossroads21, made public for the first time today.

The survey, the biggest of its kind in 35 years – involving 3,459 respondents across Australia – was conducted by a leading Australian social research organisation, the Social Research Centre, a subsidiary of the Australian National University

Emeritus Professor Andrew Markus of the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation said the survey results dispel many myths surrounding attitudes to Jewish people and Israel.

“People who expect to find Australians increasingly anti-Semitic and hostile to Israel will be surprised by what they read. Instead, this data indicates Australians hold balanced views and are not drawn to extreme positions.

“When it comes to Jewish people, most Australians reject the poisonous anti-Semitism that increasingly infects other parts of the world. They hold a generally positive view on Jewish people – much like any other ethnic or religious group in this country.”

Markus, who co-designed the survey and analysed the results, said Australian attitudes towards the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were also illuminating.

“Yes, there are certainly prejudicial attitudes out there; but they are only a very small handful. Yes, on the topic of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, some Australians are more sympathetic to Palestinians; but they are also in the minority.