Many of our readers found the cartoon thought-provoking. It is undeniable, however, that many others in the community, particularly Jews, were deeply hurt and offended by it. We have heard their distress and for this pain, we sincerely apologise.
As royal commissioner Virginia Bell begins her inquiry, we will have more uncomfortable conversations about what constitutes free speech. The seeds of that debate have been sown in the past week, with the withdrawal of a host of eminent writers from Adelaide Writers’ Week following the festival’s removal of controversial Palestinian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah from the program.
The withdrawals were not necessarily an endorsement of her views and statements, but an act in support of free speech.
This masthead stands in support of free speech, but it acknowledges the harm it is capable of causing. There is no place in this country for hate speech. There must, however, be room for people to express their views on politics and world events. Wilcox and other cartoonists must be allowed to continue to draw the world as they see it.
There are many commentators and members of the Jewish community, for example, who do not support the policies of Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu. They, too, must not be silenced.
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