While I find Scarfe’s depiction disturbing to say the least, I don’t think that it crosses the line of being anti-Semitic. It is a political cartoon depicting Benjamin Netanyahu and refers to his policy regarding Palestinians. The other cartoons shown are specifically anti-Semitic propaganda, as they depict extremely racist caricatures.

It should also be noted that Scarfe has apologized for the timing of the editorial cartoon, stating that he did not know that it was to be run on Remembrance Day, but was penned in reaction to Netanyahu’s recent re-election as Prime Minister. Scarfe also is refusing permission for further reproduction of the cartoon.

Scarfe “regrets timing” of Sunday Times Netanyahu cartoon

In a statement, the paper said it was a typically robust cartoon by Mr Scarfe, and directed readers to a Sunday Times magazine feature published in the same edition exposing “the Holocaust-denying tours of concentration camps organised by David Irving”.

“The Sunday Times firmly believes that it is not antisemitic,” said a spokesman. “It is aimed squarely at Mr Netanyahu and his policies, not at Israel, let alone at Jewish people. It appeared on Sunday because Mr Netanyahu won the Israeli election last week.”