A cartoon by illustrator Or Reichert published in the online edition of the newspaper 'Shevi'i' and expected to be published tomorrow (Friday) in the print edition of the newspaper is causing a storm.
Cartoon for @Shvi_e pic.twitter.com/xt3LPBc8P8 newspaper
— Or Reichert (@orreichert) January 4, 2024
The cartoon depicts the President of the Supreme Court (retired), Justice Esther Hayut, stepping on the body of a soldier and holding a flag designed in the style of the Israeli flag with the symbol of the balance of legal justice in the center instead of the Star of David and the green colors of Hamas, which replace the blue and white.
The cartoon of President Hayut by illustrator Or Reichert, photo: from the print edition of the seventh newspaper
The letter, titled "The Courts Administration's Demand for the Immediate Removal of Content Amounting to an Offense of Incitement," sent by the Courts Administration to the newspaper's CEO and publisher Reuven Luzon, Editor-in-Chief Aharon Weisberg and illustrator Or Reichert, noted that the court was exposed to the cartoon through a critical tweet by journalist Ilan Lukacs on Twitter.
"
This morning we were exposed to a critical tweet by journalist Ilan Lukacs on Twitter with a screenshot from the Twitter channel of illustrator Or Reichert, who posted a tweet featuring a caricature of what appears to be the image of former Supreme Court President Justice Esther Hayut waving a flag over the body of a soldier."
"An internet search revealed that the cartoon was published in the online issue of Seventh Weekly, which is also scheduled to be published in print on Friday, January 05, 01, apparently in an opinion column by the publisher of the weekly, Mr. Ruby Luzon."
According to the court administration, "This is serious publicity that amounts to suspicion of incitement to violence. In addition, the aforesaid publication may establish suspicion of contempt of court. Therefore, and in light of all the above, you are required to act immediately to remove the publication from all media under your control."
"To paint us as bringing about the deaths of soldiers?"
A senior judiciary source told Israel Hayom about the cartoon: "It was impossible to put this on the agenda even from an internal systemic standpoint."
"Such publicity breaks the spirit of the justices not only in the Supreme Court but throughout the system. What is more sacred these days than the safety of our soldiers on the front? And to portray us, the judges, as those who lead to their deaths and march on their bodies, holding the flag of the judicial system in the colors of Hamas?!"
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