Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Zuckerberg cartoon prompts Israeli ire

A cartoon of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg printed in a German newspaper has prompted protests in Israel, which accuses the paper of anti-Semitism.

A cartoon of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg published by a German newspaper has prompted accusations of anti-Semitism in Israel.

The caricature in Friday's Sueddeutsche Zeitung depicts Zuckerberg as a big-nosed octopus, whose tentacles are taking hold of computers and smart phones.

His hat, on curly hair and above a thick-lipped smile, has the Facebook logo. In one tentacle he holds the logo of WhatsApp, which his company purchased last week for $US19 billion ($A21.09 billion).

Efraim Zuroff, of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Jerusalem, called the cartoon "shocking" and "almost a replica of a Nazi caricature from 1938."

"I have no doubt there is a scent of anti-Semitism emanating from this," he said on Tuesday.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"Zuckerberg doesn't have a big nose, but in the caricature his nose is emphasised. The hook nose is a typical caricature of a Jew.

"It is clear that whoever drew the caricature is emphasising the fact that Zuckerberg is Jewish. It's classic. The Jews are taking control of the world. It reinforces all the stereotypes about Jews."

The drawing also drew attention on Twitter.


1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world