German newspaper Sueddeutsche has pulled a cartoon that depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a controversial outfit, apologized for using it and fired the cartoonist who drew the image.

Cartoonist Dieter Hanitzsch, 85, was fired by the paper after German authorities criticized Sueddeutsche for showing Netanyahu wearing a dress and boots with a missile with a Star of David on it in one hand, and a microphone in the other, celebrating at the Eurovision contest.

Sueddeutsche's editor-in-chief Wolfgang Krach said publishing the cartoon, which had an anti-Semitic theme was a mistake, according to media reports on Friday.

Krach later said the controversial cartoon, carried in the May 15 issue of Sueddeutsche had used "anti-Semitic cliches" when it showed Netanyahu in the attire of Israeli Eurovision entrant Netta Barzilai, who won the 2018 contest on Saturday.

Netanyahu is shown in the cartoon holding the missile in his hand high in the air, saying, "Next year in Jerusalem."

Hanitzsch, who had been working with Sueddeutsche for decades, said he wanted to criticize Netanyahu for taking political advantage of the Israeli singer’s win at the Eurovision contest.

A few days ago, Israeli troops shot dead dozens of Palestinians during protests on the Gaza border, drawing strong criticism from many countries.

The ongoing protests in Gaza are part of the “March of Return,” which first began on March 30 with the aim of condemning Israel’s occupation of Palestine and demanding the refugees right to return.

The German Press Council launched an inquiry to determine whether the cartoon was anti-Semitic.