Is this cartoon anti semetic?

RDM · 29 Jan 2013 at 14:38

Part of the problem with this particular cartoon is the timing and the fact that Netanyahu is drawn as almost the stereotypical Jew with the big nose and an very unhealthy resembalance to a very famous Nazi poster.

bitslice · 29 Jan 2013 at 14:55

If they wanted sympathy then maybe they should stop killing quite so many people.

At least it's not a cartoon of a dead prophet, that would be outrageous.

doofer · 29 Jan 2013 at 15:51

Won't be long before it's anti-Semitic to even ask if it's anti-Semitic.

Theophany · 29 Jan 2013 at 15:56

Pixel said:
You get labelled an anti-semite just for disagreeing with the opinions of Israelis these days.

Just like you get labelled a Zionist for siding with Israel.

Craterloads · 29 Jan 2013 at 15:56

An Israeli kills a child, you say that's wrong don't do it. You're being anti-Semitic, is pretty much the jist of it. The over use of the anti-Semitism card is in fact anti-Semitic as it diminishes the just value of it.

olivier renault · 29 Jan 2013 at 15:59

No it's not. It's critical of Israel politics.

If they don't like it, tough.

Sliver · 29 Jan 2013 at 16:01

It's not anti semitic. It's a cartoon depicting political satire.

Having said that, if you are Jewish and are offended, why not go and burn down a British Embassy.

Oops ! Sorry, wrong religion. That's the snackbarists isn't it ? :cool:

Eddie · 29 Jan 2013 at 16:11

Did any of you see this story?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-21240036

He dared to mention what is happening to the Palestinians and got a written warning for mentioning Jews in the same sentence.

The government was of course outraged; outraged at his use of the word 'jew', f-all mention of the atrocities carried out on the Palestinians on a daily basis.

It stinks to high heaven, but hey ho, footy's on.

EyepodI · 29 Jan 2013 at 16:14

The jews have hijacked the term semite / semitic.

Palestinians and other arab races are also semites. So you can also accuse the jews of being anti-semitic themselves. Semite refers to people originating in SW asia / Middle east. They tend to look like arabs - dark skin, eyes. Strange that so many jews are so so western european looking yet love to pull the anti-semitic card at every opportunity :confused:

Woden · 29 Jan 2013 at 16:51

EyepodI said:
The jews have hijacked the term semite / semitic.

Palestinians and other arab races are also semites. So you can also accuse the jews of being anti-semitic themselves. Semite refers to people originating in SW asia / Middle east. They tend to look like arabs - dark skin, eyes. Strange that so many jews are so so western european looking yet love to pull the anti-semitic card at every opportunity

The definitions of words change over time, that's how all language has evolved. Just think of the word "gay". Gay men are allowed to wear black clothes.

The whole thing is messed up, not just the situation, but peoples reaction to it as well. People that support both sides are blaming the other for everything that is going on with cries of "anti-semite!" or "zionist!" putting an end to any intelligent debate on the matter. Both sides are as bad as the other.

shine · 29 Jan 2013 at 17:01

Woden said:
Both sides are as bad as the other.

True, both sides are uninterested in peace, they would like wipe the other side off the map. While that attitude exists it is hard to fell sympathy for either side.

However, I didn't personally find anything anti-semitic about about either the cartoon or the comments by David Ward. Both were focussed on Israeli policy towards Palestinians, nothing else.

Marine Iguana · 29 Jan 2013 at 17:05

LolJews.

Cosimo · 29 Jan 2013 at 17:05

It's a political cartoon which isn't anti-semitic.

PlacidCasual · 29 Jan 2013 at 18:05

I think it does border on the anti-semtic. Whilst the point being made is a valid one the delivery deliberately points to existing racial slurs, in particular blood libel. The mortar between the bricks obviously seems to be evoking blood and the trowel is particularly dagger like. If these existing slurs were already part of the common lexicon of anti-semitism and were genuinely original I think it would have been tolerable.

Just read the BBC article, they think it represents blood libel too.

hurfdurf · 29 Jan 2013 at 18:09

No I do not think its anti semetic, it maybe anto Israel but that isn't anti Jew.

Jono8 · 29 Jan 2013 at 18:24

Vampire said:
My grandfather died at Auschwitz but I don't find that joke offensive.

Admittedly he was drunk and fell out of a watchtower, breaking his neck. Nasty business.

Was this is a joke?

Danthus · 29 Jan 2013 at 18:27

hurfdurf said:
No I do not think its anti semetic, it maybe anto Israel but that isn't anti Jew.

Why is it anti Israel, lets be honest, Palestinians are dying are a result of Netanyahu and his policies.

Lets not forget, Israel is building on land contrary to international law.

Castiel · 29 Jan 2013 at 18:37

It isn't anti anything. It is a satirical criticism of Israeli policy regards the peace process and the two state solution under Netanyahu and his Revisionist Zionist administration. It is a political satire that has nothing to do with whether he is Jewish or not and Murdoch should never have apologised for it.

Danthus · 29 Jan 2013 at 18:48

Castiel said:
It isn't anti anything. It is a satirical criticism of Israeli policy regards the peace process and the two state solution under Netanyahu and his Revisionist Zionist administration. It is a political satire that has nothing to do with whether he is Jewish or not and Murdoch should never have apologised for it.

I also do not think Murdoch should have apologised.

The editor of the newspaper has also apologised now.

Below are some comments from the ewish Leadership Council.

A meeting took place at 4pm today between representatives of the Jewish Community and the Sunday Times Senior Editorial Team and News International Corporate Affairs.

In the meeting, the Jewish Community organisations present made the following points:

Jews (and others) throughout the country reacted to this cartoon with a visceral disgust that is unprecedented in recent years. This was due to the gratuitous and offensive nature of the image, made worse by its use of blood and its being published by Britain’s leading Sunday newspaper on Holocaust Memorial Day.

Blood has a long and ugly tradition within the history of anti-Semitism, premised upon the notorious medieval Blood Libel, with Jews being alleged to steal the blood of others for religious purposes. The use of blood, including on occasion the actual Blood Libel, persists in extreme Arab and Iranian anti-Israel propaganda. It is a profoundly disturbing example of the adaptation of anti-Semitism for modern day usage.

These historical and contemporary contexts have racist impacts upon victims and proponents alike. This is why so many Jews were wounded by the cartoon, regardless of the initial motivations of Gerald Scarfe and the Sunday Times.

http://www.thejlc.org/2013/01/statement-on-sunday-times-gerald-scarfe-cartoon/

So not only are the talking in terms of anti-Semitism but they are also mention racism.

ikillbears · 29 Jan 2013 at 18:51

bit off topic. Any one else get a malware warning when entering this thread ?