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Original poster

To think that this really can't be true about young people's thoughts about Israel?

635 replies

Another2Cats · 05/06/2024 19:52

So, I just read an article where they say they have done a poll of young people and, of those under 25, 54% said that they agree with the statement "the state of Israel should not exist". Just 21% disagreed.

Did the polling company manage to just randomly pick a bunch of people that feel this way, or is this genuinely how many young people feel?

IABU to think that this can't really be true? (I am quite prepared to accept that IABU and that this really is what a majority of young people believe)

The link is here:

https://unherd.com/newsroom/majority-of-young-britons-think-israel-should-not-exist/

and this is the text of the article:

A majority of Britain’s young people do not believe Israel should exist, a new UnHerd poll has revealed.

A preliminary finding of an exclusive survey of 1,012 voters about foreign policy, conducted by Focaldata and due to be released tomorrow on UnHerd, found that a striking 54% of 18-24-year-olds agreed with the statement that “the state of Israel should not exist.” Just 21% disagreed.

This finding dovetails with other UnHerd polling on the same issue. In a separate question, young respondents were asked who was more to blame for the war in Gaza. Half blamed the Israeli government, while a quarter answered Hamas. Only 19% responded “all equally”.

The war’s high degree of exposure online and on social media appears to have fuelled interest among Britain’s young. An AI-generated “all eyes on Rafah” graphic was shared more than 44 million times on Instagram recently, with pro-Palestine content also proliferating on TikTok. Critics have argued that the Chinese social media platform has deliberately promoted anti-Israel content, which TikTok has denied, citing the existing attitudes of its young user base.

These attitudes are reflected in further UnHerd polling, which asked young Britons about their level of interest in wars around the world. It found that Britons aged 18-24 are far more interested in the war in Gaza than they are in the Russia-Ukraine conflict or in US-China tensions. Among this group, 38% were very interested in Gaza and 28% were somewhat interested, compared with 19% and 44% who were very or somewhat interested in the war in Ukraine, respectively.

As the Israeli war enters its eighth month, public opinion has slowly shifted in Palestine’s favour. Historic polling shows that popular support for Israel was at its highest shortly after the 7 October attacks at 21%, but this figure has since fallen. Although young people were most sceptical of Israel before the attack, the overall level of support for the Jewish state over the same time frame has plummeted to 16%, according to YouGov figures.

As of this week, a new ceasefire proposal is on the table, and the US is pushing Israel to accept it. The deal would involve the exchange of prisoners for hostages and would pave the way for negotiations. A ceasefire has strong majority support in the UK.

Majority of young Britons think Israel should not exist

A majority of Britain’s young people do not believe Israel should exist, a new UnHerd poll has revealed. A preliminary finding of an exclusive survey of 1,012 voters about foreign policy, conducted by Focaldata and due to be released tomorrow on UnHerd...

https://unherd.com/newsroom/majority-of-young-britons-think-israel-should-not-exist

OP posts:
Thread gallery
41
noblegiraffe · 05/06/2024 23:40

mommyisbest · 05/06/2024 23:10

People are not complaining that how Israel was created means it should not exist.
This is a misreading. Many nations are born of blood and war. That is not the offence.
People are complaining that Israel was created to advantage one group of people from all over the world whilst simultaneously disadvantaging the people who were indigenous to that land. That is a colonial enterprise. There is the offence.
Also it's not that the nation should be wiped off the planet- what the students want is the colonial nature of the nation to be reversed. Simply stop giving a right of return to one group and not another group. That's what it means to say Israel should no longer exist given that's what it was created to do.

You're projecting your own opinions on other people trying to make their position sound reasonable.

There are people who think Israel should not have been created and that it should not exist now. They don't want a Jewish state. The world's only Jewish state. Yet other religious states do not get the same objections.

If you cannot see that it is odd that every other peace march has called for regime change but this one wants to see the end of a country's existence or connect the dots between this and the fact that there are well documented groups who have actively tried to end that country's existence who use the same slogans, well then, you need to think a bit harder.

LordPercyPercy · 05/06/2024 23:39

when folks from Europe/US, arrived and basically carved out a state from a land where Palestinains lived for over 2000+ yrs

The overall majority of the Israeli population are Jews from Middle Eastern counties and Arab Muslims, just FYI.

It's also very misleading to say there were Palestinians there for 2000 years. Wiki gives an accurate enough summary of the history of the region, it's ruling powers have shifted repeatedly over the last 2000 years:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Israel

History of Israel - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Israel

MyMumIsBetterThanYours · 05/06/2024 23:37

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:36

Indigenous when though? 3000 years ago - perhaps there is an argument for that, but what about the folks who were living there prior to 1948 for centuries?

Show quote history

Like the Jews who worshipped in the Synagogue in Gaza you mean? If it's 1500 years old, it's fair to assume there were Jews there then. I'm also assuming they didn't just build it and then leave.

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:36

MyMumIsBetterThanYours · 05/06/2024 23:33

No, I'm saying Jews were also indigenous to the land. That's why there's a 1500 year old synagogue in Gaza.

Show quote history

Indigenous when though? 3000 years ago - perhaps there is an argument for that, but what about the folks who were living there prior to 1948 for centuries?

MyMumIsBetterThanYours · 05/06/2024 23:35

Halfemptyhalfling · 05/06/2024 23:34

I am not under 24 but I would blame the Israeli government for the war. They did not have to react to the massacre the way they have. They had so much sympathy at the time and now the support has fallen away with the disastrous destruction which has failed to stop hammas or to bring all hostages home. It's Aldi uncovered the terrible way they have treated the Palestinians for decades

The protests against Israel started the evening of October 7th so I'm genuinely not sure what sympathy you're talking about.

Halfemptyhalfling · 05/06/2024 23:34

I am not under 24 but I would blame the Israeli government for the war. They did not have to react to the massacre the way they have. They had so much sympathy at the time and now the support has fallen away with the disastrous destruction which has failed to stop hammas or to bring all hostages home. It's Aldi uncovered the terrible way they have treated the Palestinians for decades

MyMumIsBetterThanYours · 05/06/2024 23:33

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:30

So you're saying that indigenous people don't have the right to their own land? Seriously?

Show quote history

No, I'm saying Jews were also indigenous to the land. That's why there's a 1500 year old synagogue in Gaza.

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:33

79Helene · 05/06/2024 23:21

@StarbucksSmarterSister Yes. And then I saw she used the phrase "crying antisemitism", which tells me enough to know that engaging with an antisemite (because anyone that uses that phrase absolute is one) is going to be futile.

So.this is the best you could come out with when presented with facts? You seem to have assumed a lot about me, yet have not been able to challenge what I said earlier - other than swear and deflect.

noblegiraffe · 05/06/2024 23:32

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:19

Posters here denying the very basic facts of creation of Israel..find a single world map, dating pre 1948 that shows state of Israel. It didn't exist. And it remains a fact that after the events of WW2 - it was created.

You might need to go back in time a bit but Israel definitely existed pre 1948...

However, there are loads of countries that were created recently. So?

To think that this really can't be true about young people's thoughts about Israel?
Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:30

MyMumIsBetterThanYours · 05/06/2024 23:23

There was also no state of Palestine - What's your point? That some indigenous people should have more right to the land than others because you've said so?

Show quote history

So you're saying that indigenous people don't have the right to their own land? Seriously?

LuluBlakey1 · 05/06/2024 23:25

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:19

Posters here denying the very basic facts of creation of Israel..find a single world map, dating pre 1948 that shows state of Israel. It didn't exist. And it remains a fact that after the events of WW2 - it was created.

You have confused Netanyahu with his father in your previous posts. He was never named Benzion Mileikowsky- that was his father. He wasn't born in Warsaw- that was his father. He did not change his name to Netanyahu- his grandfather, a Rabbi, changed the family name to Netanyahu which means 'God-given'. But do go on spouting non-factual, prejudiced, inaccuracies.

I am no Netanyahu supporter but he is an Israeli by birth and took his surname from his father.

Workhardcryharder · 05/06/2024 23:25

WitchyWay · 05/06/2024 20:23

Come on though, how many people actually know about the history of Israel and the history of the longstanding conflict? People love to get involved in the latest drama without actually knowing anything about it.

All I know, is if Glastonbury got invaded and thousands of innocent British young people were slaughtered on site or kidnapped, the attackers would have hell to pay. If the attackers hid in amongst locals, I have no doubt the UK, America etc would also attack.

Israel has always been damned either way. I hear literally no one talk about the atrocities of the October attack, people couldn't care less. Israel are expected to take the hit, to lie down and accept these horrific attacks. Who would accept that?! Would these young people you quote be ok if it happened to their sister, mother or friend?

Hypocrisy. Wait until the terrorism comes back to the UK, I'm sure the young adults will soon change their tune.

There’s a lot in between “lying down and taking attacks” and “murdering tens of thousands of innocent people, like you and I.

Our government (in our lifetimes) have committed some atrocities abroad, would you think it ok for citizens of that country to come in and brutally murder your family? Because an eye for an eye right? Except, these are INNOCENT CIVILIANS and they didn’t TAKE THE EYE IN THE FIRST PLACE. Fucking leaders and their shitty fucking dick
swinging using innocent people as pawns in their game.

Have some empathy, for the victims of IDF AND for the victims of Hamas

MyMumIsBetterThanYours · 05/06/2024 23:23

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:15

No, it's you who needs a history lesson. There were Jews all over the world prior to 1948, and even today. What is your point? The fact remains there was no State of Israel prior to 1948 - you know there is a profound difference between the two.

Show quote history

There was also no state of Palestine - What's your point? That some indigenous people should have more right to the land than others because you've said so?

79Helene · 05/06/2024 23:21

@StarbucksSmarterSister Yes. And then I saw she used the phrase "crying antisemitism", which tells me enough to know that engaging with an antisemite (because anyone that uses that phrase absolute is one) is going to be futile.

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:19

Posters here denying the very basic facts of creation of Israel..find a single world map, dating pre 1948 that shows state of Israel. It didn't exist. And it remains a fact that after the events of WW2 - it was created.

Tarantella6 · 05/06/2024 23:18

I'm 39 and we covered the establishment of Israel in GCSE history. I don't remember much of the detail but I definitely came away thinking that Israel took people's land.

We did loads on the Nazis and the Holocaust but somehow it didn't really stick as to why Jews needed their own country. Not sure if that's down to my teacher or the syllabus. It's such a complex history though I'm not sure it's possible to adequately cover it as a portion of a GCSE syllabus.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 05/06/2024 23:16

79Helene · 05/06/2024 22:55

WTF are you talking about? So much of your post is demonstrably false. It's hard to know where to start.

Show quote history

I think this would be a good start, don't you? Absolute twaddle, every word of it.

"Whereas, in Israel's situation, almost all of then moved over from Europe/USA/Russia etc after WW2. Majority of their DNA is that of Europeans"

noblegiraffe · 05/06/2024 23:15

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:08

Okay I'll try and be brief and explain to you, and others who have quoted my post, and trying to make this about other counties. The difference between Pak/Ind, or any other conflict in the world, isn't that it wasn't violent. All wars/land issues are violent and sadly people die etc. The difference in Pak/Ind situation, that posters are so keen to highlight to Justify the existence of Israel is that, Muslims/Hindus fought for their separate state on their own land, whereas in Israels case, it actually didn't exist at all, not for atleast 3000+ years - until about 1948, when folks from Europe/US, arrived and basically carved out a state from a land where Palestinains lived for over 2000+ yrs. Do you see the difference? I imagine you do, along with others who quoted my post, but will not admit to it. I have basically stated facts.

Show quote history

Do you think that Israel is 'folks from Europe/US'?

And while Muslims/Hindus 'fought for their separate state', Israel came about for no reason?

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:15

MyMumIsBetterThanYours · 05/06/2024 23:12

There were Jews in Israel before 1948. Maybe you could look into this whole fabulous GCSE subject I'm hearing so much about? Apparently it will provide you with all the facts.

Show quote history

No, it's you who needs a history lesson. There were Jews all over the world prior to 1948, and even today. What is your point? The fact remains there was no State of Israel prior to 1948 - you know there is a profound difference between the two.

LuluBlakey1 · 05/06/2024 23:13

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 22:58

PM of Israel, Benzion Mileikowsky, now known as Benjamin Netanyahu, born in Warsaw - but apparently he has more right to the land in Middle East than those who have lived there for over 2000s+ years.

He was born in Tel Aviv- his father was born in Warsaw.

MyMumIsBetterThanYours · 05/06/2024 23:13

mommyisbest · 05/06/2024 23:10

People are not complaining that how Israel was created means it should not exist.
This is a misreading. Many nations are born of blood and war. That is not the offence.
People are complaining that Israel was created to advantage one group of people from all over the world whilst simultaneously disadvantaging the people who were indigenous to that land. That is a colonial enterprise. There is the offence.
Also it's not that the nation should be wiped off the planet- what the students want is the colonial nature of the nation to be reversed. Simply stop giving a right of return to one group and not another group. That's what it means to say Israel should no longer exist given that's what it was created to do.

What came first, the temple or the mosque?

noblegiraffe · 05/06/2024 23:12

StarbucksSmarterSister · 05/06/2024 22:32

He didn't know anything at all about 7th October? 😲

Show quote history

We talked about it a bit at the time but I don't think he connected it to what he's seeing on social media now, because the people on social media definitely aren't connecting them.

He doesn't use TikTok or twitter or snapchat or the like so he hasn't seen much about it.

Aladdinzane · 05/06/2024 23:12

@LuluBlakey1

There you go again. I really wouldn't comment on the intelligence of others when you make such poor and fallacious points.

MyMumIsBetterThanYours · 05/06/2024 23:12

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 23:08

Okay I'll try and be brief and explain to you, and others who have quoted my post, and trying to make this about other counties. The difference between Pak/Ind, or any other conflict in the world, isn't that it wasn't violent. All wars/land issues are violent and sadly people die etc. The difference in Pak/Ind situation, that posters are so keen to highlight to Justify the existence of Israel is that, Muslims/Hindus fought for their separate state on their own land, whereas in Israels case, it actually didn't exist at all, not for atleast 3000+ years - until about 1948, when folks from Europe/US, arrived and basically carved out a state from a land where Palestinains lived for over 2000+ yrs. Do you see the difference? I imagine you do, along with others who quoted my post, but will not admit to it. I have basically stated facts.

Show quote history

There were Jews in Israel before 1948. Maybe you could look into this whole fabulous GCSE subject I'm hearing so much about? Apparently it will provide you with all the facts.

MyMumIsBetterThanYours · 05/06/2024 23:10

Fab238 · 05/06/2024 22:58

PM of Israel, Benzion Mileikowsky, now known as Benjamin Netanyahu, born in Warsaw - but apparently he has more right to the land in Middle East than those who have lived there for over 2000s+ years.

I mean, he was born in Tel Aviv. Where does he have a right to live?