Censorship at The Guardian: Cartoonist who drew Netanyahu fired after 40 years
Steve Bell, a cartoonist who has worked for the British newspaper "The Guardian" for over 40 years, has been fired due to a drawing featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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According to reports in the British press, cartoonist Steve Bell was fired from the newspaper where he had worked for many years after his latest drawing featuring Netanyahu was accused of being "antisemitic."
Following the removal of the cartoon from publication, Bell stated that after he sent the image to the newspaper, he received a "coded message" from The Guardian staff referencing the Jewish character Shylock from Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice," who demands a "pound of flesh" from the merchant Antonio.
Defending his work against the newspaper's accusations, the 72-year-old cartoonist expressed that he did not understand The Guardian's concern, stating, "It is becoming almost impossible to draw for The Guardian without being accused of using 'antisemitic tropes'."
Bell pointed out that The Guardian had initiated a "new process" to review content "even for cartoons that haven't been drawn yet," and reported that he was told his cartoons would not be published even though his contract was not set to expire until next April.
In the cartoon, which featured an incision in the shape of the Gaza Strip on Netanyahu's stomach, Netanyahu was depicted preparing to perform surgery on his own body with a scalpel. The text "Residents of Gaza, get out now" was written on the image.
THE GUARDIAN: CONTRACT WILL NOT BE RENEWED
A spokesperson for The Guardian News and Media confirmed in a statement regarding the matter that they had no plans to continue working with Bell.
The spokesperson stated, "The decision has been made not to renew Steve Bell's contract. Steve Bell's cartoons have been an important part of The Guardian over the past 40 years. We thank him and wish him well."