Murdoch Apologizes For “Grotesque, Offensive Cartoon”

Gerald Scarfe’s cartoon in the UK’s Sunday Times depicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using blood to build a wall that includes the bodies of Palestinians. The image, published on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, infuriated the Anti-Defamation League, which charged that the “blatantly anti-Semitic theme” is “a modern day evocation of the ancient ‘blood libel’ charge leveled at Jews.” The World Zionist Organization-Israel said it violated “all lines of decency and morality.” The Murdoch-owned paper initially defended the drawing, telling The Guardian that ”It is aimed squarely at Mr Netanyahu and his policies, not at Israel, let alone at Jewish people. It appeared yesterday because Mr Netanyahu won the Israeli election last week.” But News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch sees things differently. In a tweet today he says that “Gerald Scarfe has never reflected the opinions of the Sunday Times. Nevertheless, we owe major apology for grotesque, offensive cartoon.”

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