Pat Oliphant's Wednesday political cartoon about the Israel-Gaza conflict has sparked a predictable uproar from some in the Jewish community, who see the cartoon as anti-Semitic. I think anyone could be forgiven for taking it that way at first glance. After all, how does one respond to the sight of a Star of David mutant with giant teeth and one evil eye fixated on a defenseless tiny woman (who appears to be holding a baby?)
With our minds! First, let me say that I don't try to take strong opinions on issues that I don't feel I know enough about, and Israel-Palestine is one of those issues. So while I'm not sure if I agree with this cartoon's statement, I do feel pretty confident that its message is at heart one that is anti-Israel, not anti-Semitic.
This is how I read it: Israel is obviously the jack-booted headless figure carrying the sword and Star of David as weapons. The jack-boots and goose-stepping are meant to provoke the reader with comparisons to a Nazi stormtrooper. The poor nebbish on the right is Gaza, being hunted down mercilessly (or at least chased out of Israel's way!)
The cartoon is a political statement about Israel, not an attack on Jewish people in general. It's criticizing Israel's actions against Palestinians in Gaza, and calls Israel out for using religion, or religious history, to justify its occupation of lands that rightfully belong to other people. It reminds me of the term "bible thumping," in a way. Picture that literally: someone striking someone else with a Bible. The point being made with that phrase, and this cartoon, is that religion is used as a tool to justify violence or intolerance.
Again, I'm not saying I agree with the message! I'm fairly neutral on the Israel-Palestine issue. But I do want to point out the overreaction by groups like the Anti-Defamation league, who called the cartoon "hideously anti-semitic." I think it's important not to get stuck in the mode of thinking that the Israeli government is beyond reproach. Past sufferings of the Jewish people, and past and present atrocities by terrorists in the region, shouldn't allow us to turn a blind eye to the actions of the Israeli state, or to be hypersensitive when others do criticize it.
If the ADL wants to react to the cartoon, they should, and loudly! But they shouldn't call it anti-Semitic. It's a criticism of Israel, not Jewish people.
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Comments: 23
That said, the treatment of the Palestinia people by the state of Israel has been, in many cases, extremely brutal, and leaves that nation open to accusations of war crimes/crimes against humanity. (For example, there are multiple reports of innocent civilians---children--being shot down deliberately. The Israeli Defense Force also made extensive use of what can only be considered ""terror weapons" in the form of white phosphorus munitions during their most recent incursion into Gaza.) The "Jewish state" has clearly demonstrated that it is little, if any, less unprincipled than the terrorists of Hamas and Hezbollah it is fighting. The United States should think twice about providing further material support to the state of Israel unless, and until, that nation changes its treatment of the Palestinian people for the better.
When I ran a bar and a patron got out of hand, I would ask his friends to keep him in control. This was waaaay easier than having my bouncers beat them up.
Friends don’t let friends commit terrorist acts.
Obama should ask Israel to quit bulldozing Palestinian homes of parents of suicide bombers. This is not working as Saudi millionaires buy them new homes anyway.
Lets use precision guided munitions to keep civilian casualties down.
Don't exaggerate. I have Christian friends. I always make sure I am referring to the mean nasty bigoted kind, when I protest them. A lot Christians are not mean nasty bigots.
And this isn't about Christians.
What if the image were reversed and instead of the Star of David used, the Muslim symbol was used to mock Muslims in a political cartoon about the bad behavior of Hamas and Palestinians. You'd have protests/riots all over the Muslim world.
That's VERY hard to do when Hamas starts war and then hides behind their own women and children in schools, mosques, and food centers.
I mean this with all due respect; truly. But I have to start by pointing out that though I agree with Ms. Moulton's comments that this cartoon is anti -Israel rather than anti semitic, I do find it to be a co-out to say that you don't have an opinion either way.
The facts are out there for us all to learn. The problem is that the truth has been manipulated and controlled to such an extent that the majority of Americans don't understand what is really going on. Worst yet, most think of this as a conflict between two groups of people. Some even go as far as thinking that Israel is only defending itself from "terrorists".
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The facts are that Israel, from its very inception, has been oppressing, killing, and terrorizing the Palestenian People. It has committed the most agregious human rights violations in the history of mankind. and it continues to do so.
If we are to be just, if we are to stand up for justice, and against oppression, we have an obligation to point that out. especially when you have an opportunity to express your opinion on a public forum. Miss or Ms. Moulton, I highly recommend a book by Joe Sacco called "Palestine". It is a graphic novel which looks at what is going on in that region without bias.
as to those who think that Isreal is somehow the innocent victim, or only defending itself albeit a little too strongly,..I beg you to take a moment to research this. You will be surprised at the truth.
One name ,..RACHEL CORRIE,..please google it,..learn from it.
This is a very important issue because America is being dragged into Israel's action. this is what is inflaming the Muslim world against the US.
We should not defend crimes against humanity.
. . . You declare, my friend, that you do not hate the Jews, you are merely 'anti-Zionist.' And I say, let the truth ring forth from the high mountain tops, let it echo through the valleys of God's green earth: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews--this is God's own truth.
"Antisemitism, the hatred of the Jewish people, has been and remains a blot on the soul of mankind. In this we are in full agreement. So know also this: anti-Zionist is inherently antisemitic, and ever will be so. "
The entire premise of the title is unwittingly anti-JEWISH
the idiots who think Israel didn't restrain itself don't know how many missiles the Gazan's threw into Israel before Israel decided to go into Gaza (after they gave Gaza to the Arabs....100? 200? 1000? 2000? more less???? go do your homework
The average useful idiot also doesn't know how many trucks of supplies Israel delivered into Gaza while it rooted out terrorists, 1 a day? hundreds a day? guess How many go in now?
Where do the Gazans get their energy and water from? Guess, or research
What happened to homicide bombings once a security fence was built? what happens when we stop the checkpoints there? anybody know???
How many Israelis were killed or wounded before Israel decided to go back into Gaza? does anybody even care?
When Israel committed the "Holocaust" against the Gazans, how many died? how many were terrorists? why was it that civilians died?
If you don't know the answer to these questions, you have no right to give an opinion as your opinion is an ignorant one. Do yourself a favor, either call yourself racist or study the facts before you all spout your mouth off
Maybe you should do YOUR homework and find out if they had any right to that land in the first place !!!
To use the charge of anti-semitism to so blatantly defend the racism, apartheid and terror practices of an expansionist Israel is immoral. Colonialism is immoral. Apartheid is immoral and both of these have become the official policy of Israel.
Israel has always depended on sympathy: world guilt over the Holocaust and sympathy for being "the victim." It is not obvious that they are not victims at all: they are indeed the perpetrators of their own situation: it is the colonialism of the Occupation and the land theft of West Bank settlements that has kept this conflict going for so long.
Most West Bank Settlements are built on land LEGALLY owned by Palestinians who live in the West Bank. This is the real issue: stealing another people's homeland is a crime against humanity. The fact that it is done with my tax dollars is an outrage out of control.
Once anyone learns the facts they will realize how preposterous and deceptive it is to ask where the Gazans get their water from, or how many supply trucks went into Gaza as it was being bombed.
It is up to the individual to decided whether criticizong Israel political policy equals criticizing the Jewish faith and all those who follow it.
There is graffiti on the walls in gaza that says first comes saturday and then sunday. Meaning first the jews, then the christians
talking about christians. why is it that christian palestinians are leavign gaza and the west bank to move to israel when they can? perhaps it is becasue of the terrible way the israelis persecute them. Maybe it is because the muslim palestinians are doing it to the christians?
there is no arguing with people like you roger and brian. You are obviously set in your ways hatred in the disguise fo the tolerant left
Did you knwo that if not for the help of at least 20% of the palestinians, there would have been no jewish state? of course not
An expansionistic Israel. yeah right. 30 years ago today, israel gave egypt back all of sinai
a few years ago, tehy gave gaza back to the palestinians what did gaza give back in return? 3000 missiles. How many would america take if 3000 missiles came from Mexico into san diego?
Did bill clinton drop hundreds of thousands of pamphlets into the balkans warning the citizens before they blamket bombed it?
Apartheid? The only country in the middle east allowing freedom of religion. and israel citizenry for all legally there
What about the 1million plus sephardic refugees kicked out of arab land in the 40's?
What about GIlad Shalit. In prison for 1000 days and hamas doesnt allow the red cross in once
If I had my way, israel would stop giving the palestinians any money or aid whatsoever
there should actually be a 3 state solution where jordan takes the W. Bank and Egypt takes Gaza. It wont work as Jordan and Egypt wont do it...they don't want those troublemakers to ruin their country
You guys have your facts.....from one side.
If you guys were living in the 30's Hitler would be the victim!
I find your comments and feigned knowledge pathetic
The f16 has over 600 modifications due to the Israeli Airforce
We have fought the US wars in the ME for them
the question is not whether Israel needs the US, the question is whether the US needs Israel. I think you will be surprised to know the true response.
ah such naivete
Comparing hamas or "terrorists" action against Israel is like a rapist, in the action of raping someone, complaining that they are fighting back and screaming too loudly.
Rachel Corrie,..how do you explain Rachel corrie?
The bulldozing of a young American woman who simply tried to stand up against injustice? was she a "terrorist" too? was that more of Israel's benevolent treatment of Palestinians?
You should be ashamed for defending such blatant atrocities even if you are Jewish.
To try to defend Israel's actions is no different than a nazi rationalizing and defending Hitler's actions (which many did/do).
injustice is injustice period.
the question is will you stand on the side of justice or on the side of your people? remember it is easy to become the devil you fear.
Please for those who don't know,..look it up. Start with rachel Corrie,..there is plenty of information on youtube about the truth.
With due respect.. here are the facts about Corrie.
She was warned by Israelis to move out of the way of approaching bulldozers. She was told that the small window of a bulldozer did not afford the operator visuals of anyone directly in front of the vehicle. Minutes before the incident happened, she leapt in front and was killed.
As for Israel's treatment of the Palestinians - I ask the people on this panel to answer the following questions.
1) What would you do if your neighbour hurled missiles over your fence day in and day out, so that your lives revolved around "How quickly can I run to the bomb shelter"
2) What would you do if your neighbour told the world (as HAMAS does and is doing, and has written in its charter) that you and your family will be wiped off the face of the earth
3) What would you do if you decided to retaliate and you warned the civilians that the HAMAS were firing from residential homes, and they need to leave, and their leaders forbade this and thus they were killed wheh their buildings were hit? (In a retaliatory attack)
4) What would you do if your children were being taught that (for example) all Catholics are pigs and scum and need to be killed and they were entitled to do this
Thank you
And some here think self defense against suicide bombers and missiles is unacceptable for one country, but all other countries can do it?
Nope.
Israel WILL defend itself no matter what some in this thread have decided. Because that's just what Country's do.