LONDON (AP) 鈥 The Guardian newspaper has fired longtime editorial cartoonist Steve Bell after refusing to run a caricature of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that critics said drew on antisemitic imagery.
鈥淭he decision has been made not to renew Steve Bell鈥檚 contract,鈥 the Guardian said.
鈥淪teve Bell鈥檚 cartoons have been an important part of the Guardian over the past 40 years 鈥 we thank him and wish him all the best,鈥 publisher Guardian News and Media said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Thursday.
Bell has contributed to The Guardian since 1983. Several of his hundreds of cartoons over the years have been accused of including anti-Jewish stereotypes. The latest cartoon, posted by Bell on social media, shows Netanyahu holding a scalpel and preparing to cut a Gaza-shaped incision in his abdomen, with the caption 鈥淩esidents of Gaza, get out now.鈥
It is labeled 鈥渁fter David Levine鈥 and recalls a Vietnam War-era cartoon depicting U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson pointing at a Vietnam-shaped scar. American illustrator Levine drew inspiration from a photo of Johnson showing reporters his scar from gall-bladder surgery.
Bell said he had been accused of evoking the 鈥減ound of flesh鈥 demanded by the Jewish character Shylock in Shakespeare鈥檚 play 鈥淭he Merchant of Venice.鈥
He told industry newspaper the Press Gazette that 鈥淭he Merchant of Venice鈥 had 鈥渘othing to do with the cartoon.鈥
鈥淚 don鈥檛 promote harmful antisemitic stereotypes. 鈥 Never have I done such a thing, I would not dream of doing such a thing,鈥 the publication quoted him as saying.
Britain has a long tradition of cartoons showing politicians in exaggerated and grotesque form. Bell has created some of the most indelible caricatures of recent British leaders, portraying former Prime Minister John Major wearing underpants over his trousers, Tony Blair with a demonic oversized eye and David Cameron with a condom over his head.
