UPDATE: Thanks to Brian of London for the heads up. The cartoon still remains visible on the publication’s Middle East & Africa landing page.
The cartoon at The Economist represents the exact same mindset that Finnish politician Pertti Salolainen expressed on Finnish state TV in Dec. 2012.
Jewish Groups Rip Economist Over ‘Anti-Jewish’ Cartoon, ADL Calls for ‘Full Apology’ (UPDATE)
Jewish groups sharply criticized the publication by The Economist on Saturday of a cartoon depicting Jewish control over President Obama to the detriment of the United States.
The image, “unmistakably conveys a distinctly anti-Jewish message by inappropriately employing imagery representing an age old anti-Semitic myth of undue Jewish control,” Michael A. Salberg, Associate National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in an email to The Algemeiner. “This message conjures up another classical anti-Semitic myth, the dangerous accusation that Jews have a dual loyalty and, when it comes to Israel, will act on behalf of Israel to the detriment of the security of the US.”
The offensive economist cartoon. Photo: Screenshot.
The caricature shows President Obama reaching across a ravine to shake the hand of Iranian President Rouhani. Obama is shackled to a heavy looking congressional seal emblazoned with Jewish stars. The accompanying article, entitled “Negotiating with Iran: A big gap to close,” is about the recently inked U.S. led deal between Iran and world powers over the country’s nuclear weapons program. The piece cites Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s vocal opposition to the deal.
Ya know… I tend to look at that cartoon a little differently.
There’s our President ready to engage a hostile anti-American entity (as depicted by the burning American flag) and the U.S. Congress, at the urging of American Jews, is preventing something harmful to America from happening.
The ADL is so busy defending Muslims, gays and other “victims of hate”, that they no longer offer many resources in fighting anti-Semitism anymore.
Take a look at that cartoon again! Take a look at the Iranian lynch mob burning the American Flag. Take a look at the Congress PREVENTING our President from walking into a trap.
I know, I hear ya, I thought of that as well. But it’s in the eye of the beholder, and I fear others (most) will not be looking at it that excellent view you bring up.