Editorial cartoon depicted war as ‘merciless’, not Israeli people

Your Turn

Fred Hazouri, Louis M. Silber and Howard Simon

Guest columnists

The Palm Beach Post has solicited our comments on a political cartoon regarding the war in Gaza.

Specifically, the Post requested comment on whether a political cartoon it published is antisemitic as some in our community have contended – a judgment we reject.

The cartoon, published on Jan. 26, depicted an Israeli hostage being carried to safety by two Israeli soldiers, stepping over dead bodies of Palestinians. To us, as well as the editor, the cartoon conveyed an anti-war message displaying the tragedy and suffering that the war in Gaza has caused on both sides.

Support for the state of Israel and its absolute right to defend itself, especially following the Oct. 7, 2023, brutal terror attack is not in contention. Hamas murdered more than a thousand innocent civilians, and there is still the terrible plight of the hostages, many of whom remain in captivity under horrendous conditions. But that does not change the fact that the war has also caused the deaths of thousands of women, children, elderly persons and others who had nothing to do with Oct. 7 and were not involved with Hamas. As with most wars, there is plenty of pain and suffering to go around.

Some have claimed that the cartoon implies that Israelis or Israeli soldiers are merciless. But what the cartoon actually depicts is that war is merciless, and like all wars the Israeli-Gaza War is no exception.

We understand that some see the cartoon as criticizing the policies of Israel’s Netanyahu government. But all of us, should be able to criticize the policies of Israel’s government and not be labeled an antisemite. If such criticism is antisemitic, then what about the families of the hostages, those released and those still held captive, and the thousands of Israelis who take to the streets every week to protest the policies of the extreme right-wing [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government?

And what of the significant percentage of Americans, including American Jews, who have been devoted to the state of Israel — for many, since the founding of the nation following the Holocaust and World War II — but who are horrified by the policies of the Netanyahu government?

We assume the Post reached out for our comments because I along with retired Judge Fred Hazouri, a past recipient of the Anti-Defamation League’s Jurisprudence award, James K. Green and Howard Simon, past president and retired executive director of the ACLU of Florida, respectively, expressed our view that an accusation of antisemitism, as serious as that is, should not be used to stifle ideas and censor free speech.

Antisemitism is the prejudice, discrimination and hatred of the Jewish people, which has resulted in violence, persecution and mass murder throughout history. Criticism of Israel’s government does not constitute antisemitism. In fact, Florida Statute §1.015(4) states: 'Antisemitism does not include criticism of Israel that is similar to criticism of any other country.'

While the anti-war cartoon in question might be viewed as a criticism of the Netanyahu government, that does not reflect the evils of antisemitism.

Louis M. Silber is a longtime West Palm Beach attorney, Fred Hazouri is a retired Palm Beach County judge, Jim Green is past president of the ACLU of Florida, and Howard Simon is past executive director of ACLU of Florida. They wrote this for The Palm Beach Post.