“Anti-Semitic” cartoon about Netanyahu: The cartoonist’s contract is not renewed

Steve Bell, historical British newspaper cartoonist Guardian, claims that he was fired for a cartoon about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The designer himself, who has been working for the British newspaper for more than 40 years, announced this in X. But only Guardian He gave a different version, claiming that Bell’s contract would expire. But Bell revealed that he was told the newspaper was no longer willing to publish his work after he presented a controversial image of Netanyahu in a post that was described as “anti-Semitic” by his superiors.

Description of the cartoon and references

The cartoon was created following Israel’s October 7 attack on Gaza in response to Hamas’ aggression. In his name Guardian He just said his contract had expired and would not be renewed.

In the drawing, the Israeli prime minister wears boxing gloves and holds a scalpel over his exposed abdomen, preparing a cut in the shape of Gaza and the words “People of Gaza, get out of here right now.” The disturbing cartoon, which was recently rejected by the newspaper management, still appeared on social networks.

Critics have interpreted this as a reference to the character Shylock, a Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare’s play ‘The Merchant of Venice’, who demands “a pound of flesh” from someone who cannot repay him. Bell defended the image and rejected accusations that it used anti-Semitic stereotypes, saying it was a reference to David Levine’s 1960s cartoon depicting US President Lyndon B. Johnson with a Vietnam-shaped scar on his torso during the war. in a Southeast Asian country.

However Guardian He denies this, claiming that Bell’s contract had in fact “expired” after “40 years of work” and highly regarded publications.

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Source: Today IT

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