Poll: 90% of British Jews see Israel as their ancestral homeland

A poll by the U.K. Jewish Leadership Council and the United Jewish Israel Appeal, which was presented Tuesday at the Knesset Absorption Committee, shows that attachment to Israel among British Jews remains high, and that the community is both worried about, and protective of Israel. More than 2,500 young British Jews visit Israel per year on a dedicated educational program through the United Jewish Israel Appeal.

Poll results demonstrate that Israel both unites and divides British Jews; and Israel resonates in the thoughts, feelings and identities of most U.K. Jews.

The poll shows that young British Jews respond favorably to Israeli pluralism, diversity, social justice, technological innovation, and universalism, and are adverse to dysfunctional politics and perceived anti-democratic measures (for example, recent Knesset bills aimed at curtailing foreign funding to left-wing nongovernmental organizations).

According to the poll, 82 percent of U.K. Jews say Israel plays central or important role in their identity, with 90% seeing Israel as their ancestral homeland. About 95% have visited Israel; 76% see Israel as relevant to their daily lives; and 87% agree that Jews are responsible for ensuring the survival of Israel.

Settlement expansion is opposed by 74%; 78% support a two-state solution (14% oppose this); and 72% support the West Bank security barrier and saw Operation Cast Lead as an act of self-defense. Approximately 87% see Iran as an existential threat to Israel. About 56% of respondents think that non-Jewish minorities suffer discrimination. Like most Israelis — as attested by recent local Israeli polls — 67% of British Jews think that Israeli politics is dysfunctional.