The biggest problem with Australian views of Jews and Israel

Of all the attitudes surveyed in Crossroads25, the response that raised the most red flags was the significant agreement with the statement “Israel treats the Palestinians like the Nazis treated the Jews”.

A third of respondents (33%) agreed with the Nazi comparison statement, compared with 22% who disagreed, and 43% who were neutral or uncertain. 

The comparison was heavily endorsed by young people: 54% aged 18-24 and 43% aged 25-30 agreed. Agreement declined with age but remained significant: 32% aged 31-44, 27% aged 45-54, and 30% of those 55 and over.

The statement also found strong agreement on the left side of politics: 52% of Greens voters, 42% of Labor and 37% of Independent, dropping to 20% of Coalition voters and 17% One Nation.

The significant agreement with a statement that is offensive to many Jewish people and arguably antisemitic demands examination.

Crossroads25 was commissioned by The Jewish Independent to measure Australian attitudes to Jews, Israel and antisemitism, and to provide a longitudinal comparison with Crossroads21.