Jerusalem, August 28, 2006 … Editorial cartoonists in the Arab world have returned to "rehashing and reinventing their tired conspiracy" that portrays Israelis and Jews as controlling the United Nations and U.S. foreign policy, according to a report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued today.

Since the outbreak of open warfare between Israel and Hezbollah -- up through the U.N.-brokered cease-fire that resulted in the cessation of hostilities on August 13 – a number of cartoons appearing in Arab newspapers have depicted Jews and Israel as directing the policies and decision-making of the U.S. and U.N. in response to the violence in Israel and Lebanon.

"Once again, the Arab media has gone overboard in their efforts to accuse through the visual medium of the cartoon that the U.N. and the U.S. government are the handmaidens of the Jews," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "While the conspiracy theory of 'Jewish control' has remained a consistent and popular theme in the Arab press, the cartoonists are replaying and reinventing their tired conspiracy theory in response to the events in Lebanon."

Examples of cartoons culled from newspapers in Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan may be viewed here.

"The Arab media continues to show a propensity to ignore the facts and go for the jugular," said Mr. Foxman.  "In a part of the world like the Middle East where there is a high level of illiteracy, and where editorial cartoons have great impact, it is not surprising that there is so much animosity toward Israel and Jews in the Arab street."

Mr. Foxman, who is currently in Israel, said it was ironic that some editorial cartoonists in the Arab/Muslim media have vilified the United Nations as "Jewish controlled" -- particularly since one of its own bodies, the U.N. Human Rights Council, has passed one-sided resolutions falsely accusing Israel of massacring thousands of civilians while ignoring the deliberate targeting of Israeli civilians by Hezbollah.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.