Haaretz published a cartoon 38 years ago describing Israeli leaders as pigs. No one was fired – Israel News

The controversy following the resignation of cartoonist Avi Katz from a sister publication of the Jerusalem Post on his drawing depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political allies as pigs were gaining momentum on Thursday, columnist Haim Watzman submitting his resignation.

The Israeli Press Council responded with a statement demanding that "the owners and publishers of the newspaper immediately clarify the reasons for the draftsman's dismissal and whether it had anything to do with the publication of the comic strip."

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– Avi Katz's Facebook post

Katz posted on Facebook that a similar caricature published more than 30 years ago has not triggered the same kind of scandal. This caricature was the work of the winner of the Israel Yisrael Zeev Prize and was published by Haaretz in May 1980 under the title "Arik's Animal Farm".

Zeev cartoon depicts key ministers, former Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Defense Minister Arik Sharon as pigs, and leaders from the opposition like Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres like horses and donkeys. Zeev did not lose his job.

In response to Katz's shooting, the Jerusalem Post told Haaretz that "Katz is an independent cartoonist in the Jerusalem Post, and on the basis of editorial considerations, it was decided not to pursue the relationship with him."

Despite the obvious homage to the "Animal Farm" of George Orwell, including the use of the well-known quote "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than d & # 39; 39; other "antisemitic cartoons.

Parallel to the criticism, some defended Katz and declared that freedom of speech is supposed to allow such caricatures. After the announcement of his dismissal, a campaign was launched in the name of the draftsman, who collected more than 11,000 shekels ($ 3,000).

The Union of Journalists of Israel said that she "takes seriously the decision to expel the Katz cartoonist of the Jerusalem Post because of her critical caricature. dangerous step that should not be accepted.We are calling the publishers of Katz to retract this unacceptable step. "

Following the shooting, the upcoming Tel Aviv Animix Festival, which celebrates animation, comics and cartoons, will present an exhibition on freedom of expression.