Friday, July 14, 2017

Friday cartoon from Israel: get Netanyahu!



Today is Friday.  It's time for another cartoon. This cartoon is from Israel.

For background, consider that there's a media frenzy gripping Israel's media industry. The frenzy focuses on at least two supposed corruption scandals that center on Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Although nothing of substance has emerged against Netanyahu, some in the media write as if Netanyahu's corruption is as obvious as the nose on his face. True, there's no evidence (so far) of criminal activity (Adiv Sterman, "The media closes in on Netanyahu", timesofisrael, July 14, 2017). But that hasn't stopped some in Israel from covering these stories as if it's patently obvious the PM belongs in jail (ibid). 

The frenzy to get Netanyahu reminds one of the anti-Trump media frenzy in the US. That frenzy wants to get Trump impeached. In both instances, the frenzy is ugly.

Today's cartoon comes from Haaretz, a Left-leaning paper which is no fan of the Rightist Netanyahu. This cartoon portrays Netanyahu and his 'cronies' sweating over police investigations--and in the process, getting all tied up by their telephone records (at least, that's  my interpretation). 

The  cartoon is  by Eran Wolkowski. It appeared in Haaretz July 13, 2017.                                         . 




 Illustration: Israel's Submarine Scandal: 'Suspicions grow stronger' as Netanyahu lawyer remains in custody




I don't recognize the 'cronies' portrayed in the cartoon. But the figure in the foreground is, I'd say, Netanyahu. They're all worried. 

Israel politics can get nasty. It's unpleasant, to say the least. It's also embarrassing because the media, which should be unbiased, makes itself look like gaggle of clowns by portraying Netanyahu prematurely as a criminal just seconds away from getting arrested. 

It's gotten so bad, it doesn't matter  any more if Netanyahu is actually guilty of something. The frenzy is so outrageous that, if Netanyahu is guilty of a crime, there will be plenty of people in Israel who will claim he's been railroaded by a vicious Left that'll do anything to remove him from office.

But then, Israel takes heart. The US is no better. The media there can't wait to lynch Trump in some way or other. 

Why are two allied leaders under such horrific pressure? It's been said that the days before Redemption will be wild. Perhaps these political witch-hunts are harbingers.

Stay tuned.

In the meantime, there'll be plenty of work for cartoonist in Israel--and the US.  

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