According to a survey conducted by The Economist/YouGov, one in five Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 believe that the Holocaust is a myth. Another 30% of young Americans said they neither agreed nor disagreed with the statement that the Holocaust never happened.
It should be noted that young Americans stand out in the survey, with only seven percent of Americans in general believing that the Holocaust never happened. Among all age groups, black Americans (13%) were the most likely to say that the Holocaust is a myth.
Although the survey involved only about 1,500 people, it has received some media attention in the US – particularly in light of statements by the White House and Congress in recent weeks that they will place special emphasis on combating what they consider to be “anti-Semitism.
Israel’s invasion of Gaza continues to divide American public opinion. This week, leaders of top universities and others were summoned to the House of Representatives to address allegations of widespread anti-Semitism on American campuses.
Among poll respondents, one-third of Americans say anti-Semitism is a “very serious problem” in the US – compared to only one-quarter of young people.
Strong support for Israel
Recently, Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada introduced a bill to renew the Never Again Education Act, which requires the government to spend more money to fund “Holocaust education” for young Americans.
– Failing to educate students about the gravity and scope of the Holocaust is a disservice to the memory of its victims and to our duty to prevent such atrocities in the future. At a time of rising antisemitism, reauthorizing the bipartisan Never Again Education Act will help ensure that educators have the resources needed to teach students about the Holocaust and help counter antisemitic bigotry and hate, she stated.
According to the Economist/YouGov poll, a majority of Americans support the US backing Israel in the war against Hamas, with some 61% saying it is either “very” or “somewhat important” to support Israel.
Despite the strong support for Israel in the conflict, about half of Americans disapprove of president Biden’s actions during the invasion, according to the poll, including nearly 30% of Democrats and 69% of Republicans.
