Israeli political cartoon of Netanyahu as September 11 pilot draws fire
An Israeli political cartoon depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu piloting an airplane heading for New York's Twin Towers has set off a firestorm of criticism and focused new attention on the troubled relationship between Israel and the US.
An Israeli political cartoon depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu piloting an airplane heading for New York's Twin Towers has set off a firestorm of criticism and focused new attention on the troubled relationship between Israel and the US.
The cartoon appeared last Thursday in Haaretz, and elicited strong words in Israel and from US Anti-Defamation League chief Abraham Foxman. Foxman called on the newspaper to apologise for printing a "grossly offensive cartoon".
The cartoon appeared a day after the Atlantic quoted an unidentified US official who used the word "chickens***" to assail Netanyahu for his alleged cowardice and pettiness.
The official also complained about his settlement policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and questioned the prime minister's commitment to Middle East peace efforts, as well as his resolve to attack Iran to thwart its alleged nuclear programme.
US President Barack Obama has long had a tense dynamic with Netanyahu.
Those tensions were clearly on display last week when administration officials refused Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon's requests to meet several top national-security aides during a visit to Washington.