Cartoon Proves Criticism of Israel is "Anti-Semitic"

German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung has apologized for publishing the above cartoon of Benjamin Netanyahu, dressed as Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai while holding a rocket. The publication then ended it's decades long collaboration with the creator of the piece, award winning cartoonist and journalist, Dieter Hannitzch. German officials likened the depiction of Israel's Prime Minister to Nazi-era “anti-semitism”.

The cartoon was published on Tuesday, as Israel received international criticism for it's handling of protestors at the border with Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinian's took part in the “Great March of Return” protest. About 12,000 Palestinian's were injured, with over 3,500 wounded by Israeli soldier gunfire. The death toll has reportedly reached 106 since March, including 15 children.

Whilst Editor-in-Chief apologized for causing offense, 85 year-old Hannitzch said the apology does not represent him and denies that his intention in creating the artwork was anti-Semitic.

"That the editorial apologized is their business. I do not apologize,” Hanitzsch said, adding that the accusation that the drawing could be regarded as anti-Semitic “does not affect me. I did not mean it that way. I would like to be able to criticize Netanyahu’s policy, even as a German."

Wikipedia describes a cartoon as thus:

"A picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect."

Below, we see a caricature of Donald Trump, in what looks similarly exaggerated and grotesque in it's depiction. The image is actually celebrated in this CNN post Trump's presidency: Cartoon views from around the world and at home along with a selection of others.

Whilst some German officials denounced Hannitzch's comic study as offensive, anti-Semitism researcher Wolfgang Benz stated that he did not recognize anti-Semitism: "I do not see the usual clichés that are used to visualize resentment." He also states that the star of David is not only a religious symbol, but a political one since it can be seen on the Israeli flag.

Both cartoons carry a political message, left to the viewer to discern.