Some were hoping they had seen the last of Israel's South Park-style cartoons. But only a week after the Israeli Foreign Ministry withdrew a cartoon that mocked reporters, it released another satirical video comparing Iran with Daesh (ISIS).
The Foreign Ministry's PR team began with an anti-Hamas satirical video that mocked foreign correspondents' coverage of Gaza Strip, depicting a Western journalist reporting without his glasses.
The campaign was slammed by the Foreign Press Association, which issued a statement that led to the Foreign Ministry's withdrawal of the video:
The Foreign Press Association is surprised and alarmed by the Israeli Foreign Ministry's decision to produce a cartoon mocking the foreign media's coverage of last year's war in Gaza.
At a time when Israel has serious issues to deal with in Iran and Syria, it is disconcerting that the ministry would spend its time producing a 50-second video that attempts to ridicule journalists reporting on a conflict in which 2,100 Palestinians and 72 Israelis were killed.
Israel's diplomatic corps wants to be taken seriously in the world. Posting misleading and poorly conceived videos on YouTube is inappropriate, unhelpful and undermines the ministry, which says it respects the foreign press and its freedom to work in Gaza.
One week later, Israel is at it again with an anti-Iran campaign, equating the country to Daesh.
By Hayat Norimine
