P F ap re er e o We f th ek e ly Y ea r
Cyber warfare
PM’s Shoah pledge Starmer at Holocaust Educational Trust dinner Page 14
TRANSPARENT, TRUSTED, TRUE 19 September 2024 • 15 Ellul 5784 • Issue No.1385 •
Hezbollah blames Israel for bizarre tech explosions
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@JewishNewsUK
LI FE
Moments from hell
MAGA ZINE
Autumn 2024
Revealed: fates of the young people in this haunting new Nova picture
Competition
Art Attack
Win a magical mystery break in Liverpool
Israel’s horror on canvas
PLUS
Land of Oil & Honey
The Joker Fashion
Ottolenghi’s women of peace
Travel
BRIANMANIA! The fifth Beatle at 90... on the big
screen
To Life... l’chaim! Rosh Hashanah issue Out next week
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UK Jews turn their back on Netanyahu
Overwhelming 80% now disapprove of Israeli leader Four in five British Jews hold an unfavourable opinion of Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a revealing new report by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR), writes Jenni Frazer. Among the key findings in What do Jews in the UK think about Israel and its leaders, and how has this changed since October 7? are that 74 percent of Jews in the UK describe Israel’s situation as “bad” (37 percent) or “very bad” (also 37 percent), increasing from 57 percent measured in April/May 2023. Additionally, the report finds, British Jews think things are worse in Israel than do Israelis themselves. The survey, written by JPR’s senior research fellow Dr Carli Lessof, with JPR
intern Roy Shinar Cohen, was conducted among 4,500 adult British Jews. Those surveyed were members of the JPR Research Panel and those who responded to the June and July 2024 JPR Current Affairs Survey. Overall, the report reveals levels of pessimism about Israel’s current situation have increased significantly among British Jews when compared to data gathered before the 7 October attacks on Israel and the war in Gaza. The report provides an early look at one survey area – full results are scheduled for release at the beginning of October to mark the first anniversary of the 7 October attacks. Ninety-five per cent of adult British Jews have an opinion on Netanyahu, the most widely-known leader among those examined. Four in five Jews – (80 percent) – hold
an unfavourable opinion of him, with 65 percent saying they “strongly disapprove” and 15 percent saying they “somewhat” disapprove of him. Respondents were asked their opinion of six Israeli politicians: Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and former Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister Benny Gantz. The report notes a lack of familiarity among British Jews with both Gallant and Gantz, despite their key positions in Israeli politics. But it indicates a high disapproval rating for Smotrich at minus 78 percent, followed by minus 77 percent for Ben-Gvir and minus 68 percent for Netanyahu.
An anti-Netanyahu protest in central London
Lapid (+12 percent) and Gantz (+10 percent) are the only two leaders showing positive net ratings among those examined, while Lapid is the only leader examined showing an increase in net approval rate compared to data prior to 7 October. Continued on page 2