The Guardian has never been known for its balanced reporting on Israel, but a cartoon, shown below, in today’s issue of the paper might have crossed the line again. The cartoon, drawn by Steve Bell, depicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a puppetmaster: in one hand he holds Foreign Secretary William Hague (Perhaps Bell took offense to Hague’s comments the other day that “Hamas bears the principle responsibility” for the current situation), in the other former Prime Minster Tony Blair.  He is flanked by Israeli flags shaped like rockets, ready to launch. In the background are rockets already in flight. Above Netanyahu are written the words “Vote Likud.” It’s no wonder Bell incorporated so few words into the cartoon–because that’s how facts are reported, and Bell obviously has no need for facts.

The anti-semitic Steve Bell cartoon. Photo: Guardian Newspaper