Anti-israeli Cartoon Assailed

The Memphis Jewish Community Relations Council has written a letter to the Memphis Commercial Appeal in which it deplores a cartoon published in the daily newspaper on April 2 as “an offensive depiction of the Israeli or Jewish stereotype.”

The complaint was in the form of a letter sent by Morris Kriger, president of the Memphis Jewish Welfare Fund, and Lewis Kramer, president of the Memphis Jewish Community Relations Council.

According to the Hebrew Watchman, which carried the letter on its editorial page, the cartoon depicted Israel as an octopus holding on to Arab occupied land, shedding tears and telling “Uncle Sam” that “Sobi You know I can’t stand criticism.” “Uncle Sam,” looking amazed, points to Sadat while an Arab says “One man’s aid is another man’s tantrum.”

FRIGHTENING AND DISTURBING

In the letter, the two local Jewish leaders said “It is somewhat frightening and very disturbing” to have seen the cartoon in the Commercial Appeal and wondered if this meant a change in the paper’s policy. “If so it would appear that this policy is blatantly anti-Semitic,” they said.

Kriger and Kramer said the editorial is a distortion of Israel’s opposition to U.S. military aid to Egypt and Ambassador William Scranton’s speech at the United Nations. “In both cases,” they said. “it must be clearly understood that Israel policy is a result of deliberate decision making processes which will allow first and foremost for the preservation of security, while at the same time, work toward achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East.”

The letter concluded by noting that Israel has always sought direct negotiations with the Arabs and has always been turned down. “It is our fervent hope and desire that this offer of continual standing will be accepted, and that a lasting and just peace will result in the Middle East.” the Memphis Jewish leaders said.