News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day and Israel's 60th anniversary, a new survey of Israeli teenagers issued by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that most do not believe another Holocaust against the Jewish people could take place. But a majority thinks Israel is under threat of destruction.

82% of the youths surveyed answered in the positive when asked if Israel was under threat of destruction – down 1% from last year's poll result. However, a larger percentage of those polled said they believe that "Israel is under a serious threat of destruction" this year: 30% compared to 24% in 2007. The others said they believe Israel is under "a certain threat of destruction." On the question of whether "a second Holocaust of the Jewish people is possible or not," 9% said there was a real possibility, compared to 6% in 2007; 30% said there was a certain possibility and 59% said a second Holocaust was not possible.

While most teens still relate to anti-Semitism as an historic event, there was a significant increase in awareness of contemporary anti-Semitic manifestations, to include current issues such as "Iran, Arabs and terror" -- 27%, compared to 9% in 2007. "Israeli teenagers understand anti-Semitism in the context of history and not as something they might encounter in their daily lives.  Yet there is a growing awareness of contemporary anti-Semitism and threats to Israel's existence," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "As the YouTube generation, they are much more aware of attacks on Jews and the Jewish State."