A “radical change” in the number of Germans who believe Israel can successfully defend itself in the long run against the Arabs was shown by an opinion poll conducted by one of West Germany’s leading pollsters, the Allensbach Institute. Based on questions to 2000 adults in April, 1978, the survey found that 40 percent supported the thesis that Israel could survive Arab opposition, compared with only 26 percent in a similar poll in 1974 and 29 percent in 1971.
By contrast, only 20 percent (vs. 34 percent in 1974 and 27 percent in 1971) supported the counter-thesis that “one of these days the Arabs will be stronger.” The number of “undecided” persons stayed constant at the 1974 level of 40 percent (vs. 44 percent in 1971). The survey also indicated that a majority of those with a firm point of view tended to support Israel in the Mideast conflict.
Of those questioned, 44 percent described themselves as being “more on the side of the Israelis.” Although this is a substantial drop from the 50 percent recorded in 1974, the Institute pointed out that the 1974 result was based on opinion samples taken after both the Egyptian penetration of the Israeli lines on the Suez Canal and Syria’s attacks on the Golan Heights during the 1973 war.
The 1978 sympathy is not for from levels recorded in two “normal” years, 1970 and 1971 (46 percent and 43 percent pro-Israel respectively). Public support for the Arab cause has remained virtually unchanged at only seven percent. There was little change in the numbers of those who supported neither side in the Mideast conflict (33 percent in 1972) and those with no definite opinion (16 percent).
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
