ADL Slams Sunday Times ‘Blood Libel’ Cartoon Published on Holocaust Memorial Day

In an email to The Algemeiner, the Anti Defamation League has slammed Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper for publishing a cartoon (pictured left) ‘with a blatantly anti-Semitic theme,’ which appeared Sunday, on Holocaust Memorial Day, and has called for an immediate apology.

Raheem Kassam, Editor of The Commentatorwhich first reported on the publication of the shocking image described the cartoon as depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a ‘large-nosed Jew, hunched over a wall, building with the blood of Palestinians as they writhe in pain within it.’

‘Penned by Gerald Scarfe (the cartoonist behind Pink Floyd’s The Wall), the caption reads: ‘Israeli Elections… Will Cementing Peace Continue?’’ added Honest Reporting which also reported on the image.

‘The Sunday Times has clearly lost its moral bearings publishing a cartoon with a blatantly anti-Semitic theme and motif which is a modern day evocation of the ancient ‘blood libel’ charge leveled at Jews,’ Michael A. Salberg, ADL International Affairs Director told The Algemeiner. ‘There is nothing subtle about the caricatured image of Prime Minister Netanyahu using Palestinians and their blood to build a wall to ‘protect’ Israelis,’ he added.

Salberg called for an immediate response from The Sunday Times saying, ‘The Sunday Times should be ashamed and should immediately apologize for its gross insensitivity.’

The ADL also made reference to the history of such gross portrayals of Jews and their role in fanning the hatred that led to their slaughter. ‘This is the stuff which historically justified hatred of Jews and led to the wholesale slaughter of Jews,’ he said.

CEO of Honest Reporting, Joe Hyams, added criticism of the publication, saying, ‘Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember the most appalling atrocities carried out in modern history. It should also be a day when the media remembers that Israel’s actions to defend its citizens bear no relation whatsoever to the genocidal crimes of the Nazis. On any day, this cartoon’s imagery is an assault on the real victims of genocide, demeans their suffering and insults their memory. The Sunday Times should be mindful that what started as cartoons in the 1930′s ultimately led to violence and unspeakable tragedy. This is a lesson that The Sunday Times has clearly not absorbed.’

The Sunday Times of owned by News International which is in turn owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation. In the past Murdoch has been recognized by a number of Jewish organizationsincluding the Anti Defamation League for his friendship to the Jewish community. Murdoch has been consistently listed by The Algemeiner as one of the ‘top 10 non-Jews positively influencing the Jewish future.’

When reached on the phone by The Algemeiner a representative of  the News International Press Office would not immediately comment on the cartoon.

UPDATE: The Sunday Times responded to The Algemeiner’s request for comment, issuing the following statement: ‘This is a typically robust cartoon by Gerald Scarfe. The Sunday Times firmly believes that it is not anti-Semitic. It is aimed squarely at Mr Netanyahu and his policies, not at Israel, let alone at Jewish people. It appears today because Mr Netanyahu won the Israeli election last week. The Sunday Times condemns anti-Semitism, as is clear in the excellent article in today’s Magazine which exposes the Holocaust-denying tours of concentration camps organised by David Irving.’

A full size image of the offensive cartoon can be viewed below.

The viciously anti-Semitic image cartoon published by The Sunday Times.