Telegraph latest rag to do antisemitic Polanski cartoon
As we covered, [the *Times* published an antisemitic caricature of Zack Polanski on Sunday 3 May](https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2026/05/03/polanski-cartoon-antisemitic/). Staggeringly, the paper did this as part of [a push from the British establishment](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/05/04/zack-polanski-liked-post-zionists-control-government/) to paint Polanski and the Green Party as antisemites. Now, just days later, the *Telegraph* has done the exact same thing:
> Whilst the Jewish right is screaming “fake Jew” at Zack Polanski the mainstream press is doing its best to represent Zack as a Nazi stylised caricature of a Jewish person.
>
> Make your mind up [@Telegraph](https://twitter.com/Telegraph) [pic.twitter.com/ySjXWUwcCo](https://t.co/ySjXWUwcCo)
>
> —  Not The Torygraph  #SaveOurNHS #ScrapNHSBill (@TweetForTheMany) [May 5, 2026](https://twitter.com/TweetForTheMany/status/2051706332772790690)
Polanski targeted again
-----------------------
The point of a caricature is to exaggerate the features of the person being depicted. The problem with these Polanski cartoons is they keep exaggerating features he *doesn’t* have. Specifically, they’re giving him a large ‘hook nose’ – a feature which prominently featured in the antisemitic cartoons of the past.
Compare the recent *Times* piece to Nazi propaganda:
> On the left, published in [@thetimes](https://twitter.com/thetimes) today, on the right, published in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Antisemitism is firmly rooted in the British political and media establishment, where it has always been. [pic.twitter.com/opcKvASb4E](https://t.co/opcKvASb4E)
>
> — Dr Iain Darcy    (@doctoriaindarcy) [May 2, 2026](https://twitter.com/doctoriaindarcy/status/2050638474299007155)
Now, look at the actual nose Polanski has on his human face:
> [pic.twitter.com/taBaSqlKzV](https://t.co/taBaSqlKzV)
>
> —  Not The Torygraph  #SaveOurNHS #ScrapNHSBill (@TweetForTheMany) [May 5, 2026](https://twitter.com/TweetForTheMany/status/2051781949870481729)
When a political cartoonist gives Polanski a big, old hook nose, they’re making a choice. And given that the words ‘political’ and ‘cartoon’ are literally in their job title, you can assume they have some knowledge of the history of political cartoons.
It’s also a choice when an editor decides to publish one of these cartoons despite the obvious parallels to Nazi imagery.
So why are media outlets doing this?
It’s simple: they’re doing it because they want to make something crystal clear; namely that they can get away with it.
If a person opposes Israel’s genocide, the establishment will mercilessly attack them, and call them an antisemite. When mainstream outlets publish antisemitic cartoons of the UK’s only Jewish political leader, the establishment figures who claim to care about antisemitism remain silent.
As an example, this is what Labour’s Steve Reed was up to on the same day that the *Telegraph* published their little hate crime:
> Steve Reed, who is not Jewish, here implying that Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, is racist against Jewish people because he criticises the influence Zionists very obviously and unarguably hold over the UK government.
>
> Steve Reed is clearly being antisemitic. Again. [pic.twitter.com/hEvp8dHcSE](https://t.co/hEvp8dHcSE)
>
> — Bad Writing Takes  (@BadWritingTakes) [May 5, 2026](https://twitter.com/BadWritingTakes/status/2051766375173980575)
And yes, that is the same Steve Reed who’s said things like this:
> This stalking of Jewish politician, Green Party leader Zack Polanski by Steve Reed who has a documented history of referring to Jewish people as 'puppet masters' is sinister to say the least. Why isn't Starmer taking action to stop it? <https://t.co/TjwRLgLxJb>
>
> — Mrs Gee  (@earthygirl011) [May 5, 2026](https://twitter.com/earthygirl011/status/2051751104166142272)
Through the looking glass
-------------------------
Since Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader, establishment figures have used concocted accusations of antisemitism to attack critics of Israel. As we reported on 30 April:
> There are obvious reasons why the British establishment has sought to defend Israel at the expense of its own citizens:
>
> * The UK profits from Israel’s actions through [arms deals](https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/10/01/uk-arms-imported-israel/) and [partnerships](https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2026/03/26/elbit-systems-factory-shut-down-by-protesters/).
> * Israel is a [key ally of America](https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2026/04/28/uk-ambassador-us/), and the UK is America’s foremost lapdog.
> * The Israel lobby has proven to be very effective at [influencing British politicians](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTzCgnbENCKuz7fqU12xNBce) – particularly through the ‘[Labour Friends of Israel](https://www.thecanary.co/global/world-analysis/2025/04/01/labour-friends-israel-jon-pearce/)‘ and ‘[Conservative Friends of Israel](https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2024/03/09/conservative-friends-of-israel-protests/)‘ groups.
> * Once enough people within the establishment hold an opinion, mirroring that opinion becomes the price of entry.
The thing to remember about [the antisemitism smear](https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2026/04/23/polanski-antisemitism-smears/) is this; the purpose isn’t to convince *everyone* that politicians like Zack Polanski are antisemitic. Instead, the point is to:
* Convince *enough* people to prevent marginal victories.
* Discourage people from getting involved in politics the first place.
As more and more people turn away from Labour and the Tories, it’s getting harder and harder to achieve either of those objectives. And eventually, none of this will prove effective whatsoever.
Until then, solidarity with Jewish activists and politicians like Zack Polanski who are enduring blatant antisemitism from rags like the *Telegraph*.
*Featured image via [Barold](https://x.com/JustBarold)*
By [Willem Moore](https://www.thecanary.co/author/willem-moore/)
---
**From [Canary](https://www.thecanary.co/feed) via [This RSS Feed](https://www.thecanary.co/feed).**
As we covered, [the *Times* published an antisemitic caricature of Zack Polanski on Sunday 3 May](https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2026/05/03/polanski-cartoon-antisemitic/). Staggeringly, the paper did this as part of [a push from the British establishment](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/05/04/zack-polanski-liked-post-zionists-control-government/) to paint Polanski and the Green Party as antisemites. Now, just days later, the *Telegraph* has done the exact same thing:
> Whilst the Jewish right is screaming “fake Jew” at Zack Polanski the mainstream press is doing its best to represent Zack as a Nazi stylised caricature of a Jewish person.
>
> Make your mind up [@Telegraph](https://twitter.com/Telegraph) [pic.twitter.com/ySjXWUwcCo](https://t.co/ySjXWUwcCo)
>
> —  Not The Torygraph  #SaveOurNHS #ScrapNHSBill (@TweetForTheMany) [May 5, 2026](https://twitter.com/TweetForTheMany/status/2051706332772790690)
Polanski targeted again
-----------------------
The point of a caricature is to exaggerate the features of the person being depicted. The problem with these Polanski cartoons is they keep exaggerating features he *doesn’t* have. Specifically, they’re giving him a large ‘hook nose’ – a feature which prominently featured in the antisemitic cartoons of the past.
Compare the recent *Times* piece to Nazi propaganda:
> On the left, published in [@thetimes](https://twitter.com/thetimes) today, on the right, published in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Antisemitism is firmly rooted in the British political and media establishment, where it has always been. [pic.twitter.com/opcKvASb4E](https://t.co/opcKvASb4E)
>
> — Dr Iain Darcy    (@doctoriaindarcy) [May 2, 2026](https://twitter.com/doctoriaindarcy/status/2050638474299007155)
Now, look at the actual nose Polanski has on his human face:
> [pic.twitter.com/taBaSqlKzV](https://t.co/taBaSqlKzV)
>
> —  Not The Torygraph  #SaveOurNHS #ScrapNHSBill (@TweetForTheMany) [May 5, 2026](https://twitter.com/TweetForTheMany/status/2051781949870481729)
When a political cartoonist gives Polanski a big, old hook nose, they’re making a choice. And given that the words ‘political’ and ‘cartoon’ are literally in their job title, you can assume they have some knowledge of the history of political cartoons.
It’s also a choice when an editor decides to publish one of these cartoons despite the obvious parallels to Nazi imagery.
So why are media outlets doing this?
It’s simple: they’re doing it because they want to make something crystal clear; namely that they can get away with it.
If a person opposes Israel’s genocide, the establishment will mercilessly attack them, and call them an antisemite. When mainstream outlets publish antisemitic cartoons of the UK’s only Jewish political leader, the establishment figures who claim to care about antisemitism remain silent.
As an example, this is what Labour’s Steve Reed was up to on the same day that the *Telegraph* published their little hate crime:
> Steve Reed, who is not Jewish, here implying that Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, is racist against Jewish people because he criticises the influence Zionists very obviously and unarguably hold over the UK government.
>
> Steve Reed is clearly being antisemitic. Again. [pic.twitter.com/hEvp8dHcSE](https://t.co/hEvp8dHcSE)
>
> — Bad Writing Takes  (@BadWritingTakes) [May 5, 2026](https://twitter.com/BadWritingTakes/status/2051766375173980575)
And yes, that is the same Steve Reed who’s said things like this:
> This stalking of Jewish politician, Green Party leader Zack Polanski by Steve Reed who has a documented history of referring to Jewish people as 'puppet masters' is sinister to say the least. Why isn't Starmer taking action to stop it? <https://t.co/TjwRLgLxJb>
>
> — Mrs Gee  (@earthygirl011) [May 5, 2026](https://twitter.com/earthygirl011/status/2051751104166142272)
Through the looking glass
-------------------------
Since Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader, establishment figures have used concocted accusations of antisemitism to attack critics of Israel. As we reported on 30 April:
> There are obvious reasons why the British establishment has sought to defend Israel at the expense of its own citizens:
>
> * The UK profits from Israel’s actions through [arms deals](https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/10/01/uk-arms-imported-israel/) and [partnerships](https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2026/03/26/elbit-systems-factory-shut-down-by-protesters/).
> * Israel is a [key ally of America](https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2026/04/28/uk-ambassador-us/), and the UK is America’s foremost lapdog.
> * The Israel lobby has proven to be very effective at [influencing British politicians](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTzCgnbENCKuz7fqU12xNBce) – particularly through the ‘[Labour Friends of Israel](https://www.thecanary.co/global/world-analysis/2025/04/01/labour-friends-israel-jon-pearce/)‘ and ‘[Conservative Friends of Israel](https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2024/03/09/conservative-friends-of-israel-protests/)‘ groups.
> * Once enough people within the establishment hold an opinion, mirroring that opinion becomes the price of entry.
The thing to remember about [the antisemitism smear](https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2026/04/23/polanski-antisemitism-smears/) is this; the purpose isn’t to convince *everyone* that politicians like Zack Polanski are antisemitic. Instead, the point is to:
* Convince *enough* people to prevent marginal victories.
* Discourage people from getting involved in politics the first place.
As more and more people turn away from Labour and the Tories, it’s getting harder and harder to achieve either of those objectives. And eventually, none of this will prove effective whatsoever.
Until then, solidarity with Jewish activists and politicians like Zack Polanski who are enduring blatant antisemitism from rags like the *Telegraph*.
*Featured image via [Barold](https://x.com/JustBarold)*
By [Willem Moore](https://www.thecanary.co/author/willem-moore/)
---
**From [Canary](https://www.thecanary.co/feed) via [This RSS Feed](https://www.thecanary.co/feed).**