2017 EKOS survey on Israel-Palestine: We represent the Majority
Overview:
IJV is delighted to release the results of a Canada-wide survey co-sponsored with Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), Dimitri Lascaris, and Murray Dobbin. Conducted by the polling firm EKOS, the results are very revealing.
The results were packaged into two releases. All reports, press releases and charts for both survey releases can be found on this page:
- Release 1, February 16, 2017: Disconnect: Canadians’ views of the Israeli government vs. Canadian government policy toward Israel and Palestine
- Release 2, March 2, 2017: Most Canadians Say Sanctions and Boycott are Reasonable Measures to Defend Palestinian Rights (charts and summary are right below this section)
- What is also striking is that the majority of Jewish respondents are also critical of Israel; they agree that criticism of Israel is not necessarily anti-Semitic; they view the government and the media as biased towards Israel; and they view the Palestinian call for a boycott of Israel as reasonable. This is despite what Israel lobby organizations like the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and B’nai Brith Canada claim.
The survey was conducted by EKOS Research Associates between January 25 and February 2, 2017, with a random sample of 1,000 Canadian adults aged 18 and over. The margin of error associated with the in-scope sample is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Note that all charts presented on this page are public domain – free of copyright restrictions.
Release 2, March 2, 2017: Most Canadians Say Sanctions and Boycott are Reasonable Measures to Defend Palestinian Rights
The key findings from Release 2 include:
- Canadians believe overwhelmingly that sanctions are a reasonable way for Canada to censure countries violating international law and human rights,
- Given the UN Security Council’s recent condemnation of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, a strong majority of Canadians believe that government sanctions on Israel would be reasonable
- In the context of Israel’s ongoing violations of international law, a very strong majority of Canadians believe that the Palestinians’ call for a boycott of Israel is reasonable, and
- Far more Canadians oppose than support Parliament’s February, 2016 decision to condemn individuals and groups who promote the Palestinian call for a boycott of Israel.
Press Release on EKOS Survey on Canadian Attitudes on Israel-Palestine:
EKOS poll: Canadians receptive to boycotts and sanctions against Israel
Release 2 of the survey presents the findings from the following four survey questions:
- Canada currently imposes economic and political sanctions on 21 countries due to their serious violations of International law and/or human rights abuses. Do you believe that sanctions are a reasonable way for Canada to censure countries for violations of international law or human rights?
- In December 2016, the United Nations Security Council voted 14-0 (with the United States abstaining) to declare that Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory were a “…flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of […] peace” between Israel and Palestine. Given this statement by the U.N. Security Council, do you believe that some sort of Canadian government sanctions on Israel would be reasonable?
- In 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled unanimously that Israel’s settlements on Palestinian territory violate international law. In response, one year later, over 170 Palestinian citizens’ organizations called for a boycott to ensure Israel’s respect for international law. Do you consider the Palestinians’ call for such a boycott to be reasonable
- In February 2016, Canada’s Parliament adopted a motion (by a vote of 229-51) to condemn Canadian individuals and organizations who promote the Palestinian call for a boycott to pressure Israel to respect international law. Do you support or oppose Parliament condemning Canadian individuals and organizations who promote the Palestinian call for such a boycott?
Charts
(Release 2, Question 1) Canadians’ view of whether sanctions are reasonable (bar chart only)
(Release 2, Question 1) Canadians’ view of whether sanctions are reasonable (by educational level attained)
(Release 2, Question 1) Canadians’ view of whether sanctions are reasonable (by political party preference)
(Release 2, Question 1) Israeli Exceptionalism: Canadians’ view sanctions generally vs. sanctions on Israel (comparative pie chart)
(Release 2, Question 2) Canadians’ view of whether sanctions on Israel are reasonable (bar chart only)
(Release 2, Question 2) Canadians’ view of whether sanctions on Israel are reasonable (by political party preference)
(Release 2, Question 2) Canadians’ view of whether sanctions on Israel are reasonable (by province)
(Release 2, Question 3) Canadians’ view of whether Palestinian call for boycott of Israel is reasonable (bar chart only)
(Release 2, Question 3) Canadians’ view of whether Palestinian call for boycott of Israel is reasonable (by province)
(Release 2, Question 3) Canadians’ view of whether Palestinian call for boycott of Israel is reasonable (by political party preference)
(Release 2, Question 4) Canadians’ perspective on Parliaments condemnation of BDS (bar chart only)
(Release 2, Question 4) Canadians’ perspective on Parliaments condemnation of BDS (by province)
(Release 2, Question 4) Canadians’ perspective on Parliaments condemnation of BDS (by political party preference)
Release 1, February 16, 2017: Disconnect: Canadians’ views of the Israeli government vs. Canadian government policy toward Israel and Palestine
The key findings from Release 1 include:
- Far more Canadians have a negative view of the Israeli government than have a positive view,
- Most Canadians consider the Canadian government to be biased towards Israel,
- More Canadians view the media as biased toward Israel than towards Palestinians, and
- Canadians overwhelmingly believe that criticizing Israeli government policies is not necessarily anti-Semitic.
CNW Press Statement on EKOS Survey on Canadian Attitudes on Israel-Palestine:
Disconnect: Canadians’ views contradict government policy towards Israel
Release 1 report on EKOS and Associates survey on Canadian attitudes to Israel-Palestine:
Disconnect: Canadians’ views of the Israeli government vs. Canadian government policy toward Israel and Palestine, A report on a Canadian national opinion survey conducted January 25 to February 2, 2017 Issued by: Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, Independent Jewish Voices, Dimitri Lascaris, LL.B., Murray Dobbin
Release 1 of the survey presents the findings from the following four survey questions:
- Generally speaking, do you have a positive or negative opinion of the government of Israel?
- Do you believe that the Canadian government has generally been more pro-Israel or more pro-Palestinian?
- Do you believe the media in Canada are generally pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian?
- Some people argue that criticism of Israeli government policy is anti-Semitic. Others say that criticism of Israeli government policy is like criticism of any other country, and is not necessarily anti-Semitic. Which of these statements comes closest to your own point of view?
Charts
(Release 1, Question 1) Canadians’ View of the Government of Israel (bar chart only)
(Release 1, Question 1) Canadians’ View of the Government of Israel (by political party preference) (pie and bar chart)
(Release 1, Question 1) Canadians’ View of the Government of Israel (by province) (pie and bar chart)
(Release 1, Question 1) Canadians’ View of the Government of Israel (by educational level attained) (pie and bar chart)
(Q3) Canadians’ View of Canadian Government Bias on Israel-Palestine (bar chart only)
(Release 1, Question 2) Canadians’ View of Canadian Government Bias on Israel-Palestine (by political party preference) (pie and bar chart)
(Release 1, Question 2) Canadians’ View of Canadian Government Bias on Israel-Palestine (by province) (pie and bar chart)
(Release 1, Question 2) Canadians’ View of Canadian Government Bias on Israel-Palestine (by educational level attained) (pie and bar chart)
(Release 1, Question 1 & 2) Canadians’ View of Israel against Perceived pro-Israel Bias of Canada’s Government
(Release 1, Question 3) Canadians’ View of Media Bias on the Question of Israel-Palestine (bar chart only)
(Release 1, Question 3) Canadians’ View of Media Bias on the Question of Israel-Palestine (by political party preference) (pie and bar chart)
(Release 1, Question 3) Canadians’ View of Media Bias on the Question of Israel-Palestine (by province) (pie and bar chart)
(Release 1, Question 4) Canadians’ View of whether Criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic (bar chart only)
(Release 1, Question 4) Canadians’ View of whether Criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic (by political party preference) (pie and bar chart)