ISRAEL: Some Israelis yesterday accused Europeans of anti-Semitism while others blamed the European media after publication late last week of an EU poll that revealed Europeans view Israel as the greatest threat to world peace.
The survey, conducted in mid-October among 7,515 citizens of the European Union, found that almost 60 per cent of respondents believed Israel is more dangerous than North Korea, Iran and Afghanistan. The US ranks sixth. The partial findings were first published in the Spanish daily El Pais.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Natan Sharansky said the poll was proof that anti-Semitism was behind the criticism of Israel in Europe over its policies vis-à-vis the Palestinians.
"Just as in the past, when the Jew was blamed for all the world's problems, so in the 'enlightened' world today they are attaching the same blame to the Jewish state."
Mr Sharansky said the EU "would do well to stop the demonizing of Israel, before Europe deteriorates back to dark regions of its past".
Israeli observers suggested the poll was further evidence of the deteriorating relations between Israel and the EU over the Middle East conflict. Some Israeli officials said the survey pointed to what they said was highly critical coverage of Israel in the European media. Others said it was further evidence that Israel was losing the public relations war with the Palestinians in Europe.