Readers looking to partake in this Sunday's New York Times crossword puzzle have left dumbfounded by its layout - which many noticed bears a resemblance to a Nazi swastika

Donald Trump Jr. was among hundreds of New York Times readers who slammed the newspaper for their crossword puzzle on Sunday – which many noticed it had an uncanny resemblance to a Nazi swastika.

The puzzle’s silhouette has caused a stir on social media, with several prominent Jewish leaders and political figures taking to social media to voice their outrage – especially since it was published on the first night of Hanukkah.

Some contend the pattern – which is striking and jumps off the page even at a glance – is a coincidence, while others claimed it serves as one of the latest and most brazen examples of the paper’s supposed history of anti-Israel rhetoric. 

The Times has yet to comment on the controversial puzzle.

Readers looking to partake in this Sunday's New York Times crossword puzzle have left dumbfounded by its layout - which many noticed bears a resemblance to a Nazi swastika

Readers looking to partake in this Sunday’s New York Times crossword puzzle have left dumbfounded by its layout – which many noticed bears a resemblance to a Nazi swastika

Donald Trump Jr. slammed the puzzle as ‘disgusting,’ writing Sunday that ‘only the New York Times would get Hanukkah going with this is the crossword puzzle.’

The son of the former president, like many others, cited the publication’s track record of siding against the predominantly Jewish nation of Israel in its long running conflict with neighboring Palestine.

Some pointed to an example seen in its issue just the day before – an OP-ED piece by the paper’s editorial board that was critical against the new Israeli government.

Trump Jr. went on to question the paper’s actions, asking how it would report on a similar instance if the tables had been turned.

‘Imagine what they would do to someone who did this and was not ideologically aligned with them?’ Trump Jr., 44, wrote. ‘I’ll give them the same benefit of the doubt they would give those people… exactly zero.’

Donald Trump Jr. slammed the puzzle as 'disgusting,' saying 'only the New York Times would get Hanukkah going with this is the crossword puzzle.'

Donald Trump Jr. slammed the puzzle as ‘disgusting,’ saying ‘only the New York Times would get Hanukkah going with this is the crossword puzzle.’

The son of the former president, like many others, cited the publication's track record of siding against the predominantly Jewish nation of Israel in its long running conflict with neighboring Palestine.

The son of the former president, like many others, cited the publication’s track record of siding against the predominantly Jewish nation of Israel in its long running conflict with neighboring Palestine. 

Other figures to air similar backlash included two prominent New York politicians and several Jewish groups and leaders – as well as several citizen’s who were confounded not by the puzzle’s difficulty, but by the message its layout seemed to be sending.

NYC Council member Kalman Yeger wrote, ‘A hidden Happy Chanukah message in today’s @nytimes crossword?’, while his counterpart, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov reshared his post while airing similar incredulity, writing, ‘Seriously @nytimes!?’

Some contend the pattern - which is striking and jumps off the page even at a glance - is a coincidence, while others claimed it serves as one of the latest and most brazen examples of the paper's supposed history of anti-Israel rhetoric

 Some contend the pattern – which is striking and jumps off the page even at a glance – is a coincidence, while others claimed it serves as one of the latest and most brazen examples of the paper’s supposed history of anti-Israel rhetoric

 S.A.F.E. CUNY,  an alliance of City University of New York scholars and students dedicated to the the Zionist movement, wrote, ‘Today’s Crossword Puzzle from the New York Times for Hanukkah. Pretty much sums up the @nytimes for the past few years in regard to Jews and Israel.’

The organization serves as a sort of watchdog for antisemitism, and flags local instances in its colleges throughout the city.

Many other users made the same observation – including Israeli media network Israel Nation News, who pointed out the Time’s opinion piece published yesterday warning against the new Israeli government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu.

NYC Council member Kalman Yeger wrote, 'A hidden Happy Chanukah message in today’s @nytimes crossword?', while his counterpart, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov reshared his post while airing similar incredulity, writing, 'Seriously @nytimes!?'

NYC Council member Kalman Yeger wrote, ‘A hidden Happy Chanukah message in today’s @nytimes crossword?’, while his counterpart, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov reshared his post while airing similar incredulity, writing, ‘Seriously @nytimes!?’

The outlet went on to ask its 38,000 followers if they thought the disturbing imagery was intentional or not. The paper did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment Saturday evening when poised the same question.

 Netanyahu, who was ousted last year after four years in office – has maintained a firm stance against Palestine in their border struggle for the Gaza Strip. 

He is set to return to power as head of the country’s most right-wing government ever after an election win last month. 

In the piece published Saturday, The Times warned that ‘Netanyahu’s government, however, is a significant threat to the future of Israel — its direction, its security and even the idea of a Jewish homeland.’

The Times has yet to comment on the puzzle, which was published Sunday just before the first night of Hanukkah

The Times has yet to comment on the puzzle, which was published Sunday just before the first night of Hanukkah

The Times also faced backlash during the Holocaust for barely mentioning the mass extermination of Europe’s Jews during Hitler’s conquest of the continent.

Out of more than 24,000 front-page stories over the course of that time period, the systemic killings by the Nazis were mentioned  just 26 times, and often only the victims as ‘refugees’ or ‘persecuted minorities.’

The paper is run AG Sulzberger – the sixth member of the Ochs-Sulzberger family to serve The Times as publisher since the newspaper was purchased by Adolph Ochs in 1896. The family is of both German and Jewish ancestry. 

 

Many other users made the same observation - including Israeli media network Israel Nation News, who pointed out the Time's opinion piece published yesterday warning against the new Israeli government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu

Many other users made the same observation – including Israeli media network Israel Nation News, who pointed out the Time’s opinion piece published yesterday warning against the new Israeli government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu

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