The cartoon originally published in The New York Times included an apparently blind President Donald Trump wearing a yarmulke while being led by a dog with the face of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Star of David collar.
Following the publication of the clearly anti-Semitic cartoon, Israeli cartoonist Shay Charka posted his edited version of the cartoon. In the new version he replaces President Trump’s face with a copy of The New York Times, and the face of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a book of protocols that shows a snake winding its way around the world on the cover, and the Star of David dog collar tag with “BDS.”
The creator of the original cartoon, Antunes, who works under the mononym António, is a Portuguese cartoonist who has a history of publishing anti-Semitic cartoons. In 2006 a cartoon published during the Second Lebanon War depicts one leg tied up with explosives and attached to an Islamic crescent moon, and another leg – adorned with the American flag – attached to a bloody Star of David.
The New York Times originally issued a statement to appear in their Monday international edition which just said they erred in publishing the cartoon but made no mention of an apology. Only after receiving major backlash on twitter and elsewhere did they issue a second statement where they issued a formal apology.
Despite apologizing about the original cartoon, The New York Times published another cartoon, which appears to be anti-Semitic as well and has been widely circulated on twitter after being brought to light by Social Media legend ALX.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO and National Direction of the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) tweeted “This is insensitive, inappropriate, and offensive. It shows once again that the @NYTimes needs to educate its staff about #antiSemitism. We call on them to take immediate action.”
Jason D. Greenblatt, assistant to President Trump, tweeted “Confounded & shocked by another terrible decision by @NYT. As our nation is grieving the deadly attack in #Poway, how did a cartoon like this make it into their paper…again?! We need answers!”
