New York, NY, July 7, 2011 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is calling on the United Nations top human rights official to publicly condemn Richard Falk, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian territories, for posting a blatantly anti-Semitic cartoon on his personal blog.
The cartoon, posted on June 29 and later removed, featured a vicious dog, labeled "USA" and wearing a Jewish skullcap, urinating on a representation of lady justice while feasting on a pile of blood and bones.
"This cartoon is blatantly anti-Semitic and conveys the message that Jews and Americans care little about what is just and moral," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "While Mr. Falk writes on this blog in his personal and not professional capacity, the message of hatred in this cartoon nonetheless directly contravenes the principles of the Human Rights Council and of the United Nations itself."
In a letter to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, the League said Falk's decision to feature an anti-Semitic cartoon on his blog is only the latest in a pattern of unacceptable and inappropriate politicization of his position.
"Mr. Falk has a long record of incendiary and blatantly biased criticism of Israel, including statements comparing Israeli defense measures to Nazi atrocities," wrote Mr. Foxman. "Such biased behavior and clear intolerance is fundamentally against the values and ideals a Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council should uphold."
Updated: August 14, 2013
Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, denounced Richard Falk's posting of the cartoon, calling it "anti-Semitic and objectionable." ADL said Falk's apology does not adequately resolve the matter and called on Ms. Pillay to encourage his resignation. More >>