Private Eye accused of fuelling ‘antisemitic tropes’ with latest cover on Israel

The satirical news magazine Private Eye has been accused of fuelling ‘antisemitic tropes’ with its latest front cover observations on Israel’s response to the October 7th Hamas terrorist outrage.

A deliberately provocative front page reads “Warning: This magazine may contain some criticism of the Israeli government and may suggest that killing everyone in Gaza as revenge for Hamas atrocities may not be a good long-term solution to problems of the region.”

Among those to condemn the latest Private Eye cover was the author and comedian David Baddiel.

He wrote:”The issue here is not what it says, but presenting it as a big pleased-with-it’s-own-dangerousness WARNING, suggesting that it will lead to Jews throwing all their toys out of the pram and having massive hissy fits like the touchy privileged whiners they are.”

Jewish News spoke with one leading communal figure who said they were cancelling their 40 year long subscription to Private Eye in response to the cover.

Others also backed the criticism of the current issue.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism group said:”Satire is one thing, but when it plays on antisemitic tropes like outsized Jewish power, it is not funny.

“When British media like Private Eye publish defamatory material like this, which fuels racism against Jews in the UK, do not act surprised when antisemitism increases by over 500%. They are complicit.”

Another campaigner against anti-Jewish racism, Alex Hearn was also critical of the cover, saying : “Because no one ever criticises Israel. What bravery.

“On a different note a synagogue just got firebombed and the perpetrator shouted anti-Israel slogans. You guys are so daring.”

Private Eye has been edited by Ian Hislop since 1986