A recent poll conducted by the Siena Research Institute indicates that nearly three-quarters of New Yorkers believe there has been a surge in antisemitism targeting Jews in the city since the Hamas attacks on Israel began on October 7.
Released on Monday, the poll of 803 registered New York voters also revealed that almost 60% of respondents think that terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians should be condemned outright, without hesitation or explanation. Additionally, 25% condemned the murders but attributed the attacks to decades of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.
The survey, conducted from November 12 to 15, highlighted a perceived increase in Islamophobia as well. The data showed that antisemitism and, to a slightly lesser extent, Islamophobia have become more widespread since the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel.
Dr. Don Levy, director of the Siena College Research Institute, stated, “New Yorkers see both anti-Semitism and, to a slightly lesser degree, Islamophobia as widespread, and both have increased since the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel.”
New York Police Department data, released earlier in November, supported the poll’s findings, revealing a significant rise in anti-Jewish incidents in the city following the October 7 invasion by Hamas.
Regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the poll indicated that a majority of New Yorkers expressed support for Israel. Only 30% believed that the death of Palestinian civilians at the hands of Israeli attacks on Hamas in Gaza should be condemned without explanation.
The survey also explored public opinion on the 2024 US presidential elections, noting that President Joe Biden’s favorability rating remained relatively unchanged from the previous month. However, Biden’s job approval rating saw a slight decline. The poll also showed a decrease in favorability for former President Donald Trump, assuming both are nominated in upcoming Democratic and Republican primaries.
The data aligns with previous polls suggesting that a majority of American Jews approve of Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, while there is disapproval from some segments of the population, particularly from the far left.
In conclusion, the survey indicates a heightened perception of antisemitism in New York since the October 7 attacks, with implications for public opinion on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the upcoming US presidential elections in 2024.
