The cartoon above by Michael Ramirez was featured in the Los Angeles Times on October 6, 2000.
The headline at the bottom of the cartoon states "Worshipping Their God" while depicting two men praying in front of what appears to be a clear depiction of the western wall (Judaism's holiest place).
Claiming that Jews worship hate echoes one the classic elements of anti-Semitism, that Jews are inherently filled with hate and are evil. This in turn often leads anti-Semites to legitimization of attacks on Jews as self-defense.
Western WallAfter the cartoon gave rise to general outrage in the United States, its creator Michael Ramirez released a statement that the wall in the cartoon (which accurately depicts the unique Herodian stone work and foliage found at the Western Wall), was in fact not the Western wall but instead "an unspecified wall of hate." He also claimed that the second man depicted was a Moslem (for unclear reasons, as Moslems do not pray at the Western Wall).
The Los Angeles Times subsequently altered the Ramirez cartoon, removing the Herodian framing around the stones to depict the two men praying at a generic stone wall.
Narada Zacchino, Times Associate Editor, stated that:
"Obviously, the cartoon failed to communicate his message. In addition, virtually no one saw the image as anything but the Western Wall, the use of which in the cartoon was careless and insensitive."
The headline at the bottom of the cartoon states "Worshipping Their God" while depicting two men praying in front of what appears to be a clear depiction of the western wall (Judaism's holiest place).
Claiming that Jews worship hate echoes one the classic elements of anti-Semitism, that Jews are inherently filled with hate and are evil. This in turn often leads anti-Semites to legitimization of attacks on Jews as self-defense.
Western WallAfter the cartoon gave rise to general outrage in the United States, its creator Michael Ramirez released a statement that the wall in the cartoon (which accurately depicts the unique Herodian stone work and foliage found at the Western Wall), was in fact not the Western wall but instead "an unspecified wall of hate." He also claimed that the second man depicted was a Moslem (for unclear reasons, as Moslems do not pray at the Western Wall).
The Los Angeles Times subsequently altered the Ramirez cartoon, removing the Herodian framing around the stones to depict the two men praying at a generic stone wall.
Narada Zacchino, Times Associate Editor, stated that:
Obviously, the cartoon failed to communicate his message. In addition, virtually no one saw the image as anything but the Western Wall, the use of which in the cartoon was careless and insensitive.
