New survey reveals: Israelis' favorite destinations are the most antisemitic in Europe
An ADL report indicates that Cyprus and Greece lead the antisemitism index in the EU. Staggeringly, despite more than half of the citizens there believing that "Jews control the economy," about 90% support continued ties with Israel and the arrival of Israeli tourists.
In recent years, there has been a significant rapprochement between Israel, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus, with the three nations deepening cooperation in energy, security, and infrastructure. However, alongside these close political ties, new data reveal a concerning trend in public opinion: Cyprus and Greece exhibit the highest rates of antisemitic attitudes among European Union countries included in the survey.
A new global study by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), based on the Global 100 index, found that Cyprus recorded the highest rate of antisemitic attitudes in the EU. According to the findings, 58% of respondents in the country were classified as holding an increased level of antisemitic views. The index is based on responses to 11 statements regarding Jews and antisemitic stereotypes, covering topics such as alleged influence over politics, the economy, the media, and responsibility for global conflicts.
Methodology and Key Findings
A participant is defined as holding an increased level of antisemitic attitudes if they agree that at least six of the 11 statements are "probably" or "definitely true." It is important to note that the survey does not measure the scope of hate crimes, but rather the prevalence of stereotypes and prejudices. According to ADL data, this result places Cyprus 82nd out of 103 countries and territories included in the survey.
Some stereotypes received particularly broad agreement. In Cyprus, 81% of respondents agreed that Jews have too much power in the business world, and 39% believed that Jewish loyalty lies solely with the State of Israel. Furthermore, about one-fifth of respondents claimed that the Holocaust happened but the number of victims was exaggerated—a rate significantly higher than the regional average of 6%.
The Paradox: Negative Attitudes vs. Support for Ties
The survey also examined attitudes toward Israel and the Palestinians. Only 38% of Cypriot respondents expressed a positive view of Israel, compared to 57% who expressed a positive view of the Palestinians. However, the gap between these attitudes and support for bilateral ties is striking: 81% of Cypriots support maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel, and 90% support receiving Israeli tourists. This illustrates that, despite the presence of antisemitic stereotypes, a large majority of the public remains interested in continuing political, economic, and tourism ties.
Greece and the Broader European Context
Greece, one of Israel's closest regional partners, follows Cyprus with 50% of respondents classified as holding increased antisemitic views. Conspiracy theories are particularly prevalent in Greece, where about two-thirds of respondents believe that a small group of people secretly controls major world events—far above the regional average of 39%.
Belgium ranks third among Western European countries in the index with 30%. For comparison, the average in Western Europe is only 17%. In Eastern Europe, a much higher regional average of 49% was recorded, with Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro among the countries showing high rates.
The latest ADL study included over 58,000 adults across 103 countries. Globally, 46% of respondents were found to hold increased antisemitic views, representing approximately 2.2 billion adults—the highest figure recorded since the Global 100 index launched in 2014. Researchers are particularly concerned about the intergenerational gap: 50% of those under 35 met the threshold for increased antisemitic attitudes, compared to 37% among those over 50.
