After anti-Semitism allegations, the “Süddeutsche” newspaper fires its cartoonist
Dieter Hanitzsch presented the Israeli Prime Minister in an “SZ” caricature in the style of anti-Semitic stereotypes – now the newspaper ends its collaboration with the cartoonist.
Dieter Hanitzsch
Dieter Hanitzsch
The ” Süddeutsche Zeitung ” separated itself from its caricaturist Dieter Hanitzsch, who has been commenting on current events for the newspaper with the drawing pen for decades . The reason for this is a cartoon published on May 15 in the “SZ”, which shows the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with bulging lips, big nose and huge ears.
The drawing had provided for discussions among Jewish associations, in other media and also within the editorial office. The German Press Council also wants to “deal with” the caricature. Editor-in-chief Wolfgang Krach apologized.
Michael Wolffsohn @M_Wolffsohnhttps://www.bild.de/politik/inland/antisemitismus/kommentar-von-michael-wolffsohn-55715824.bild.htmlThis cartoon could have stood in the “striker”! @ SZ@ BILD# Anti-Semitism# Satirehttps: //bit.ly/2jYPo4S
Comment – This cartoon could have been in [Julius Streicher’s] “Der Stürmer”!
In a press release from the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” it says now regarding the separation from Hanitzsch: “Reason for this are irreconcilable differences between Mr. Hanitzsch and the editorship about anti-Semitic clichés in the cartoon. This has not only been shown in the published cartoon itself, but also in discussions held with Mr. Hanitzsch. “
In a conversation with the “editorial network Germany” said Hanitzsch himself to the process: “I’ve been told by the ‘SZ’, in plain German, that I was fired.” The 85-year-old feels the action of the newspaper was “an overreaction.” And later in the conversation: “What is now all squeezed into it and interpreted, is completely excessive and should be considered in context.”
He also commented on the drawing itself: “Netanyahu misused the victory of his compatriot Netta at the Eurovision Song Contest”. On his portrayal of the Israeli Prime Minister he said: “To caricature a Netanyahu is not to make him more beautiful than he is. That’s the meaning of the cartoon.” But if someone feels hurt, he regrets it.
This is not the first time the Süddeutsche Zeitung has been accused of caricatures playing with anti-Semitic clichés. In 2014 , the newspaper printed in a partial edition a drawing showing Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg with fleshy lips and hooked nose as an octopus.
A year earlier , the newspaper had shown Israel as a voracious monster.
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