An exhibition of political cartoons about the exemption of the ultra-Orthodox from military service was vandalized on Monday ahead of the opening of the Animix International Animation, Cartoon and Comics Festival at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque.
The festival, which opened on Tuesday, traditionally addresses major social issues through animation and political cartoons. One of this year's featured exhibitions, titled "The Black Army," focuses on haredi (ultra-Orthodox) opposition to military conscription and includes works by many of Israel's leading cartoonists.
According to the festival organizers, while the exhibition was being installed in the plaza outside the Tel Aviv Cinematheque on Monday, a young man wearing a kippah confronted organizers and Tel Aviv Cinematheque CEO Tomer Cohen. They said he tore down and damaged parts of the exhibition before attempting to flee.
Festival staff and Cohen reportedly pursued him for about an hour while waiting for police, who arrived only after the suspect escaped in a taxi.
The organizers said they worked to restore the damaged exhibition, which opened as scheduled on Tuesday and which runs until August 8.
Cartoon festival is working to repair damaged exhibition
"This is the first time in the festival's 26-year history that something like this has happened," said Animix artistic director Nissim (Nusko) Hezkiyahu. "The festival has always addressed social and political issues, and there is no issue more divisive in Israeli society today than military conscription.
"We are sorry that extremists are trying to undermine freedom of expression, but this act will not deter us. On the contrary, it only underscores the importance of the exhibition. It always starts with one extremist who cannot tolerate free expression and illustration, and from there it escalates."
"Fortunately, our team is already repairing the exhibition, and it is expected to open tomorrow as planned. We invite everyone to come. Vandals, we've had enough of you," he added
Several of the cartoonists whose work appears in the exhibit drew cartoons of their own in response.