Guardian editor agrees to meeting with Board over antisemitic cartoons

Guardian editor Katharine Viner has agreed to meet with the Board of Deputies to discuss the publication of cartoons in the paper containing antisemitic tropes.

It is understood the talks will see the communal organisation raise concerns not only about last weekend’s cartoon by Martin Rowson, but also previous sketches by long-time Guardian contributor Steve Bell.

The Board confirmed on Monday that the meeting with Viner was going ahead, although it is not known when it will take place yet.

On Sunday the Board had written to The Guardian requesting an urgent meeting with the editor Katharine Viner in regard to last Saturday’s shocking cartoon in the paper, which contained antisemitic tropes in relation to Richard Sharp’s departure as BBC chair.

“This is far from the first time that the paper has crossed the line in terms of highly questionable content connected to the Jewish community,” the Board wrote.

This was also a reference to the cartoon strip by Steve Bell, axed by the Guardian in 2021 following  numerous complaints about his drawings in relation to Jews and Israel.

Despite the ending of his regular strip, Bell’s drawings have continued to be published by the Guardian.

Cartoonist Rowson apologised on his website, for his depiction of Sharp saying: “The cartoon was a failure and on many levels: I offended the wrong people, Sharp wasn’t the main target of the satire.”

He also revealed he has been at the same school as the ex BBC chief.