Israelis' Favorite Destinations Hide a Troubling Antisemitism Statistic | Sharon Pardo

The ADL's Global 100 index reveals that half of Greece's adult population holds 'elevated' antisemitic attitudes, while Cyprus has the highest rate in the EU at 58%, compared to a Western European average of 17%. Only 38% of Cypriots hold a positive view of Israel, yet 81% want diplomatic relations with it and 90% want Israeli tourists to keep coming. Pardo argues that support for Israel is not a 'kashrut certificate' in the fight against antisemitism.

In an opinion column in Maariv, Sharon Pardo analyzes data from the ADL's Global 100 index, which shows that half of Greece's adult population holds 'elevated' antisemitic attitudes, and in Cyprus the rate is the highest among EU countries surveyed at 58%, compared to a Western European average of 17%. The index measures agreement with 11 stereotypes about Jews and defines 'elevated' as agreeing with at least six. Pardo points to an interesting gap: only 38% of Cypriots hold a positive view of Israel, compared to 57% for Palestine, yet 81% want Cyprus to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and 90% want Israeli tourists to continue arriving. He argues that attitudes toward Israel, Israelis, and Jews are not identical, and that support for Israel is not a 'kashrut certificate' in the fight against antisemitism, just as criticism of Israel is not proof of antisemitism. He calls for deepening ties with Greece and Cyprus as strategic partners, while also openly discussing uncomfortable topics like Holocaust memory and antisemitic stereotypes.