The price of a cartoon

In pro-Israel community Down Under, a simple 'mild' joke about the regime's atrocity in Gaza Strip will cause a public uproar.

It happened to Sydney Morning Herald's columnist Mike Carlton who had to quit when a cartoon depicting Israel's bombings of Gaza backfired. 

The cartoon showed an elderly man, with a large nose, sitting alone, with a remote control device in his hand, overseeing explosions in Gaza. The armchair in which he was sitting was emblazoned with the Star of David, and the man was wearing a kippah, a religious skullcap. A strong view was expressed that the cartoon, by Glen Le Lievre, closely resembled illustrations that had circulated in Nazi Germany …

Read the story:
Sydney Morning Herald editor-in-chief Darren Goodsir this week apologised for an anti-Jewish cartoon that accompanied a recent Mike Carlton column. Now he apologises for Carlton himself:

I have become aware that Mike Carlton has corresponded with some Herald readers and letter writers using inappropriate and offensive language.

There’s a shock. Goodsir continues:

This behaviour is completely unacceptable.
I have asked Mike to apologise for these actions. Mike regrets his behaviour and will be contacting affected readers to apologise.

“Air hellair! Arm terriblah sahry, ahnd do hope arm forgiven. Toodle-pip! Ho hum!”

On behalf of the Herald, I too apologise for any offence caused.
In dealing with our readers, it is a basic principle that our staff, columnists and contributors should always behave with respect and courtesy.

So will Carlton resign or be fired?
UPDATE. Carlton quits:

Sydney Morning Herald columnist Mike Carlton quit the newspaper today after his editor-in-chief’s public rebuke of his “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” behavior …
The controversial columnist was last night asked to apologise. As more abusive emails to readers emerged he was to be suspended but resigned on the spot.