Star Of David Suspiciously Absent From Conspiracy Theory Editorial Cartoon

“It’s kind of obvious there’s something missing,” observed Carlos Latuff.

London, June 24 – Editors and readers of a prominent international daily expressed confusion and concern today at the appearance in the publication of a political caricature averring the existence of a cabal behind certain nefarious developments, but that did not feature a recognizable representation of Jews.

A cartoon by Swedish caricaturist Olf Sundlerlund in the International Herald Tribune, the worldwide edition of The New York Times, featured on Monday a stylized image of an octopus with a threatening facial expression and a dollar sign, extending its tentacles to grasp various important industries and institutions, but the complete lack of a Star of David, a hook-nosed man, or image of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu threw viewers into perplexity as to the meaning and accuracy of the portrayal.

“It’s kind of obvious there’s something missing,” observed Carlos Latuff, a Brazilian caricaturist with ample experience in antisemitic conspiracy theory imagery. “No one is going to understand this garbage, and even if they do, they’re going to dismiss it. A conspiracy theory that does not have Jews or ‘Israel’ at its center? Laughable. Whoever this cartoonist is, he’s got no idea how it’s done in this industry. No wonder no one’s heard of him.”

“We were putting out feelers for a resumption of regular political cartoons in our international edition,” explained a sheepish editor at The New York Times who spoke on condition that her name not be mentioned. “After the Netanyahu-as-a-dog-leading-a-blind-Trump fiasco we decided we couldn’t be trusted to distinguish antisemitic cartoons from our own backsides, and forswore using them again, but we lose a powerful tool for connecting with readers when we drop cartoons. So we’re exploring avenues to bring some back. But as everyone can see, it can be tough to gauge what works and what doesn’t. A few more attempts and we’ll be able to determine whether we can handle political cartoons on a permanent basis without making fools of ourselves, revealing our antisemitic hand, or both.”

Readers confessed confusion more than any other reaction. “There’s no clearly indicated or implied enemy here,” stated a frustrated Federica Mogherini, head of the European Union’s foreign policy. “What we expect from a good cartoon is the use of classic tropes we can all identify, ones that strike a visceral chord of hate. For Europeans that’s anything Jewish, but this cartoon just doesn’t go there, so it fails. Who’s it targeting? International bankers? Then just indicate Jews. Some other group? Freemasons? Illuminati? I’m not seeing anything compelling here. Give me a picture of a good six-pointed star a sack of gold and you’ve done your job.”

(h/t @TheMossadIL)

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