France and Spain face strong antisemitism perceptions in new Israeli survey

Three years after the October 7, 2023 attacks, Israeli perceptions of Europe appear to have undergone a significant transformation, with concerns about antisemitism now closely intertwined with a broader reassessment of the continent's political and cultural proximity.

A 2026 survey conducted by Kantar for the European Forum at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that 54% of Israeli respondents identified France and the same proportion identified Spain when asked which European countries they regarded as the most antisemitic. The United Kingdom followed at 29%.

The figures measure perception rather than an objective assessment of antisemitism levels in each country. They nevertheless point to a widening gap between Israeli attitudes and the image of Europe as a traditionally close political and cultural partner.

A growing sense of distance from Europe

The survey suggests that the change extends beyond perceptions of antisemitism. Only 18% of respondents now describe Israel as culturally and politically closer to Europe, while 42% place the country more firmly within the Middle Eastern sphere.

Attitudes toward the European Union have also weakened. Just 27% of Israelis surveyed considered the EU a success, compared with 57% in 2022. Meanwhile, 35% rejected the statement that the bloc could generally be regarded as successful.

The shift comes against the backdrop of a broader deterioration in relations and perceptions following the October 7 attacks and the war that followed in Gaza. European governments and publics have adopted differing positions on the conflict, contributing to increasingly divergent perceptions on both sides.

Germany remains an important exception

Despite the overall deterioration in sentiment, Israelis do not view all European countries in the same way.

Germany was identified by 43% of Israeli respondents as a country considered friendly toward Israel, followed by Hungary at 37% and Poland at 21%. The finding highlights a more complex picture than a general rejection of Europe.

Germany's position is particularly notable given the country's longstanding emphasis on its historical responsibility following the Holocaust and its relationship with Israel. At the same time, Israeli perceptions of Germany's domestic political landscape remain mixed, with concerns over the growth of the far-right Alternative for Germany also recorded in the survey.

Israelis increasingly see their country as safer for Jews

Another striking divide concerns perceptions of Jewish security.

Some 71% of Israelis surveyed said Israel was a safer place for Jews than Europe. The view contrasts with responses recorded among Europeans in the four countries examined by the study: only 25% of French respondents, 27% of Germans, 24% of Britons and 35% of Poles shared the assessment that Israel is safer for Jews.

The divergence illustrates how differently security is perceived inside Israel and across Europe, particularly after years marked by war, political polarization and renewed concerns about antisemitism.

European institutions have also documented widespread concern about the phenomenon. A 2026 European Commission Eurobarometer found that 55% of Europeans considered antisemitism a problem in their country, while 47% believed it had increased over the previous five years.

Concern over the future of Jewish life in Europe

Israeli pessimism about the future of Jewish communities on the continent has also increased.

According to the 2026 survey, 69% of Israelis believe that the situation of Jews in Europe will deteriorate, compared with 53% in 2022. The result suggests that concerns about antisemitism are no longer viewed solely through the lens of isolated incidents, but increasingly as part of a wider question about the long-term prospects of Jewish life in Europe.

The perception comes amid documented concerns among European Jewish communities themselves. An EU-backed survey published previously found that large proportions of Jewish respondents had experienced or witnessed antisemitism and that many believed the problem had become more prevalent.

Israeli identity strengthens, but differences remain

The survey also records a marked change in how Israelis view their own identity.

Among Jewish Israelis, 48% said their Israeli identity had become stronger over the three years following October 7, while only 10% said it had weakened. The picture was different among Arab citizens of Israel: 37% said their sense of belonging to Israel had weakened, compared with 18% who said it had strengthened.

The contrast points to significant differences within Israeli society itself. The country's increasingly Middle Eastern self-definition therefore does not necessarily represent a uniform shift across all population groups.

A changing relationship with the European project

Taken together, the findings suggest that the post-October 7 period has altered more than Israel's perception of individual European countries. It has also affected how Israelis understand their country's place in the wider world.

France and Spain's high scores in the antisemitism-perception question are therefore one element of a broader pattern: declining confidence in the European Union, increased identification with the Middle East and growing pessimism about the future of Jewish communities in Europe.

The survey was led by Professor Gisela Dachs and conducted by Kantar. The Israeli component included 502 respondents from the general population, 250 Arab Israelis and 251 ultra-Orthodox participants. In Europe, 1,000 people were surveyed in each of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland. The reported margin of error was 3.1%. The Israeli fieldwork took place in May 2026, while the European surveys were conducted in June and July.

Rather than establishing which European countries are objectively more or less antisemitic, the results offer a snapshot of how Israelis currently perceive Europe. That distinction is significant: perceptions themselves can influence diplomatic relations, public attitudes and the sense of security felt by Jewish communities on both sides of the Mediterranean.