Interesting new poll results from Germany coinciding with Israel's 60-year anniversary:

According to the poll, which was published Saturday, 53 percent of people questioned responded in the negative when asked if Germany had a "special responsibility" towards Israel because of its history. Only 40 percent said the country did have a special responsibility.

Younger Germans in particular felt less responsibility toward Israel, with only 29 percent of those aged between 30 and 39 responding in the positive to the question. A massive 65 percent of respondents in that age group said Germany had no special responsibility to Israel. However, 48 percent of the over-60s said that Germany did have a special obligation.

When asked if Germany should support Israel politically in the event of the country being attacked, 58 percent responded yes, with 33 percent saying no. A total of 35 percent supported financial support for Israel in the event of an attack, while 57 percent were against it.

A vast majority rejected military support for Israel should the Jewish state come under attack. Only 13 percent of respondents said they were in favor of supporting Israel with weapons if it were attacked. Asked if Germany should send soldiers if Israel was attacked, again only 13 percent said yes, with the overwhelming majority -- 81 percent -- responding in the negative.

The attitudes revealed in the survey contrast with German government doctrine that the country has a special responsibility to the state of Israel. That official stance was recently reaffirmed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel who told Israel's parliament, the Knesset, that Germany would "never abandon Israel, but instead will remain a loyal partner and friend."

See also Lorne Gunter in today's National Post.