New York, NY, December 1, 2003… The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is appalled that a grotesque anti-Israel cartoon has won first prize in the British Political Cartoon Society's annual competition. 

Dave Brown's cartoon, which was published in the London Independent, depicts Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon eating the head of a Palestinian baby.  The cartoon is reminiscent of medieval blood libel charges against Jews.

"It is shocking that such a cartoon, which clearly crosses the line between fair criticism of Israel and unfair criticism that is deeply offensive to Jews, would be awarded a prize by a cartoon association," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and author of Never Again? The Threat of the New Anti-Semitism (HarperSanFrancisco, 2003).  "This is especially troubling given the current climate in Europe where anti-Semitic incidents and attitudes are increasingly widespread."

ADL is urging The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists to speak out against the distasteful behavior of the British Political Cartoon Society.