La Presse, a newspaper based in Quebec, issued an apology for publishing a cartoon that depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the vampire character from the film “Nosferatu.”
The cartoon, which portrayed Netanyahu with exaggerated features, was criticized by Zionists for its use of offensive tropes. The image was removed from La Presse’s website following backlash.
Critics pointed out that the portrayal of Netanyahu as the “Nosferatu” vampire echoed antisemitic themes present in Nazi propaganda and historical depictions of Jewish people.
The Israeli embassy in Canada and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs condemned the cartoon, emphasizing that criticism of Netanyahu should not resort to antisemitic stereotypes.
La Presse’s chief editorialist issued a statement apologizing for the cartoon, clarifying that it was intended as a critique of Netanyahu’s policies, not an attack on the Jewish people. The use of the “Nosferatu” imagery was deemed unfortunate due to its association with Nazi propaganda.
The cartoon drew condemnation from various politicians in Ottawa, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who called it unacceptable. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks described the use of antisemitic tropes in a national publication as egregious, while Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre labeled the caricature as disgusting and vile.
Conservative Senator Leo Housakos accused La Presse of perpetuating antisemitism by publishing the cartoon, likening it to the actions of Der Sturmer, a Nazi newspaper known for its antisemitic content.
This incident comes after a similar controversy in December involving the Toronto Sun, which apologized for publishing a cartoon with antisemitic undertones depicting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish.
