Dutch paper accused of antisemitism over ‘absurd’ Netanyahu-Corbyn cartoon
Sketch in daily De Volkskrant seemed to accused the Israeli PM of being behind Labour's antisemitism row, as critics say it reaffirms an 'antisemitic stereotype' of dual loyalty
A popular Dutch newspaper has been accused of peddling antisemitic tropes by publishing a cartoon suggesting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is behind the controversy surrounding Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism.
The sketch, printed on Thursday in major Dutch daily De Volkskrant, shows Netanyahu holding a stone labelled antisemitism charges while reading a document outlining his own corruption charges in the other.
The Netherlands-based Center for Information and Documentation on Israel (CIDI) said the cartoon’s statement was “absurd” and “reaffirms the anti-Semitic stereotype that Jews are more loyal to Israel than countries where they live.”
CIDI added that “Jews have a right to speak out against antisemitism… The fact that an indictment was filed against the Israeli prime minister is irrelevant”.
Volkskrant cartoonist Jos Collignon defended the work, saying: “When allegations of antisemitism occur, the Israel lobby is never far behind. I think you’ll never understand this is the behaviour of victims. There is no point linking modern-day opponents to atrocities from the past. We’re all being labelled as Nazi sympathizers.”
It was printed in the aftermath of an attack on Corbyn’s leadership over antisemitism in the Labour Party by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis. Union leaders say the religious figure’s fiercely political intervention two weeks before an election is “extraordinary” but Jewish groups say Mirvis’s comments echo their concerns.
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