Art site removes ‘antisemitic’ paintings comparing Gaza War to Holocaust

Mowing The Lawn had already been removed by the time UKLFI received the complaint, but its investigation found five further works which, it claimed, were offensive.

Criminal In A Hat by Wim Carrette shows Benjamin Netanyahu dressed as a Nazi (Image: UK Lawyers for Israel)[Missing Credit]

These included Carrette’s Criminal with Hat which depicts Netanyahu dressed in a hybrid between an SS uniform and the infamous striped pyjamas, and Zionist Football, which shows Israeli soldiers, one with a Nazi armband, kicking a young man.

Other tropes in his pictures included the gates of Auschwitz with the notorious motto “Arbeit macht frei” replaced with the word “Palestine” and a piece showing Netanyahu taking selfies with IDF troops while a child is murdered in the background, which he entitled Happy Genocide.

In response, UKLFI wrote a letter to Artfinder claiming that the images were antisemitic, claiming: "Equating Israelis or Jews with the Nazis who attempted to wipe them out is grossly offensive to Jews, is a manifestation of contemporary antisemitism, and may incite or stir up unlawful hatred against Jews."

Zionist Football by Wim Carrette shows IDF soldiers kicking a defenceless man (Image: Found Myself)[Missing Credit]

The group also identified Gorbachenko’s A Walk To The Seaside, a surrealist work showing a mythical beast holding drones disguised as balloons with a Star of David on its chest, which it said alleged was "clearly associating Israel with violence against children".

All of the paintings have since been removed from Artfinder’s website.

After the JC found that Artfinder had removed works, UKLFI said: “We are pleased that Artfinder has promptly removed the offensive artworks.

"While we are in favour of freedom of expression in Art and elsewhere, we do not believe that offensive antisemitic artworks which could have the effect of stirring up racial hatred should be advertised for sale.

"We hope that Artfinder will put in place a procedure to screen artwork on its website for antisemitism or other racial hatred.”

Happy Genocide shows Netanyahu taking selfies with soldiers while a child is executed in the background (Image: Fine Art America)[Missing Credit]

Earley told the JC: "Firstly I am not antisemitic and neither is the painting. I have completed numerous works in the past that focus on the evil of the Holocaust.

"My aim with my art is to help stop people from suffering, any people, no matter what colour, race etc. I do not like violence, I do not like children being killed.

"If that makes me racist, antisemitic or a bad person then so be it. I know what I am."

Despite being removed from Artfinder, Mowing The Lawn is still listed on Earley's own website at an asking price of just under £10,000.

The JC contacted Carrette, Gorbachenko and Artfinder for comment