A new Pew Research Center survey showing growing negative views of Israel around the world reflects the impact of anti-Israel misinformation, hostile media coverage, and anti-Jewish sentiment, Zionist Organization of America President Morton Klein told Newsmax on Sunday.
Klein sharply criticized the findings of the survey, which found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries hold an unfavorable view of Israel, while just 25% view the Jewish state favorably. Pew also found that 60% of Americans now have an unfavorable opinion of Israel, up from 53% a year earlier.
"Why does this poll make these outrageous statements?" Klein told "Sunday Report" and guest host John Tabacco.
The Pew survey was conducted from Feb. 8 through May 13, with most interviews taking place after the United States and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran on Feb. 28.
Klein argued that the timing of the poll affected the results.
"It was taken in the middle of this unfortunately unpopular U.S.-Israel war against Iran, which has raised gas prices and caused great inflation," he said.
He also blamed social media platforms and anti-Israel campus demonstrations for spreading what he called false narratives about Israel.
"The social media, Instagram, TikTok, X, public college rallies against Israel throughout the world promote absurd lies against Israel," Klein said.
Among the claims he disputed were accusations that Israel is an apartheid state or is committing genocide.
"Muslims and Christians in Israel have the identical rights of Jews. There is no apartheid," Klein said. "Genocide? What kind of nonsense is this?"
Klein cited retired British Army Col. Richard Kemp and West Point urban warfare expert John Spencer, saying both have argued that Israel has minimized civilian casualties relative to combatants more effectively than other militaries in modern warfare.
He also accused major news organizations of distorting Israel's actions.
"The media lies against Israel," Klein said. "Incredibly, horrifically false statements against Israel have influenced such polls."
Pew's survey found unfavorable views of Israel increased in 13 of the 24 countries where researchers had year-over-year trend data. The poll also found that majorities in most countries surveyed have little or no confidence in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the United States, 59% said they lacked confidence in Netanyahu's handling of world affairs.
Klein contended that anti-Israel attitudes are driven less by concerns over human rights than by hostility toward Jews.
"This is not about human rights," he said. "This is about hatred of Jews that is induced by the terrible statements that are being promoted and paid for by Iran, Qatar, and Jew-hating billionaires."
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