The Israeli Anti-Semitic Cartoons Contest (Hebrew: תחרות קריקטורות אנטישמיות ישראלית) was initiated by two Israeli artists in response to the Muhammad cartoons controversy and the subsequent "Holocaust Cartoon Competition" by the Iranian newspaper Hamshahri. Illustrator Amitai Sandy announced the contest on the website of his Tel Aviv-based graphic arts company on February 14, 2006, stating, "We'll show the world we can do the best, sharpest, most offensive Jew hating cartoons ever published! No Iranian will beat us on our home turf!"
The Jerusalem Post reported Sandy as saying that his intention was to challenge bigotry by using humor. According to Haaretz, within three days of the announcement of the contest Sandy was interviewed by more than thirty daily newspapers, as well as two television channels and a radio program broadcast on 450 local stations in the United States.
On April 6, the winner was announced on the contest homepage: "Fiddler on the Roof." It depicted a fiddler on the Brooklyn Bridge during the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Other common themes through the cartoons included world domination, the myth of Jews having horns, the Holocaust (and its denial), and the blood libel, all of which were familiar staples or topics of antisemitism. Many of those staples were canards as well.
Famous quotes containing the words israeli and/or contest:
“...I want to see a film, they send the Israeli army reserves to escort me! What kind of life is this?”
—Golda Meir (1898–1978)
“Another danger is imminent: A contested result. And we have no such means for its decision as ought to be provided by law. This must be attended to hereafter.... If a contest comes now it may lead to a conflict of arms. I can only try to do my duty to my countrymen in that case. I shall let no personal ambition turn me from the path of duty. Bloodshed and civil war must be averted if possible. If forced to fight, I have no fears from lack of courage or firmness.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)