In the weeks leading up to the 2003 Israeli elections, editorial cartoonists in Muslim and Arab newspapers engaged in deeply offensive anti-Semitic caricatures and stereotypes while mocking the democratic process in Israel.

The Anti-Defamation League, which monitors and reports on anti-Semitism in the Arab world, has identified numerous instances where the Arab media used the Israeli elections as an excuse to engage in raw, hateful slurs against Jews, Israel and the incumbent Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon. Many of the offensive cartoons and images also pilloried Israel’s close relationship with the United States, while portraying Sharon as a monster and the Israeli democracy as a ruse whose real goal was to inflict violence and hardship on the Palestinians.

Editorial cartoons in Muslim and Arab newspapers routinely use stereotypical images of religious Jews engaging in violence against Arabs; in the 2003 election cycle, the practice continued with renewed vigor. In nearly all of the cartoons, Jews were depicted as blood-thirsty, greedy, murderous and dominating. Rather than engaging in legitimate criticism of Israel and its policies, the Muslim and Arab press continued to reinforce the basest stereotypes of Jews, including canards that have been used for centuries to attack and scapegoat an entire people.

The images below are unabashedly anti-Semitic. The cartoonists make no effort to distinguish between political parties or candidates, but rather generically attack Jews and Israel as a scourge on the Arab world.

Al-Ittihad, January 30, 2003 (United Arab Emirates) The cartoon's headline: "Announcing the elections results".

Al-Ittihad, January 27, 2003 (United Arab Emirates). The headline: “Israel’s elections.”
A stereotypical large-nosed Jew is standing in front of three signs.
The right says, “Vote for the best (candidate) who represents you.”
The middle says, “Vote for the devoted Israelite.”
The left says, “Vote for the well-known economist.”
The man says to himself, “Who am I going to vote for? Each of them is better than the other.”


Tishrin, January 30, 2003 (Syria) The Jew throws his "left" leg to the garbage, while standing on "the right".


Tishrin, January 29, 2003 (Syria). The Jew on the right represents, “the right;” the Jew on the left represents “the left.”


Tishrin, January 27, 2003 (Syria). On the ballot box: “Elections.” The Jew strangling the Arab represents “the right;” the Jew behind him represents “the left,” who is saying, “Now it is my turn!”