A new survey of Israeli teenagers issued by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that most do not believe another Holocaust against the Jewish people could take place. But a majority thinks Israel is under “serious threat” of destruction.

The telephone survey of 500 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 conducted in late March also queried their feelings about traveling to Poland to learn about the Holocaust by visiting historic sites and former Nazi concentration camps.  The poll found that while the trip had a profound impact on the vast majority of teens who participated, those who opted not to go cited “a lack of finances” and “lack of interest.”

A growing number of Israeli youth — 30% — believe that “Israel is under a serious threat of destruction” compared to 24% in 2007, while 52% said they believe “Israel is under “a certain threat of destruction,” a slight decline from 59% in 2007.

On the question of whether “a second Holocaust of the Jewish people is possible or not,” 9% said there was a real possibility, compared to 6% in 2007; 30% said there was a certain possibility, and 59% said a second Holocaust was not possible.

While most teens still relate to anti-Semitism as an historic event, there was a significant increase in awareness of contemporary anti-Semitic manifestations, to include current issues such as “Iran, Arabs and terror” — 27%, compared to 9% in 2007.

“Israeli teenagers understand anti-Semitism in the context of history and not as something they might encounter in their daily lives.  Yet there is a growing awareness of contemporary anti-Semitism and threats to Israel’s existence,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  “As the YouTube generation, they are much more aware of attacks on Jews and the Jewish State.”

The survey findings were released in Jerusalem by ADL’s Israel Office as a follow-up to a 2007 survey.