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Anelka also posted a picture of President Obama along with rapper Jay Z and his singer wife Beyonce also performing a similar salute.
The West Brom striker denied he was being racist but now faces an FA investigation because the salute has been heavily associated with anti-Semitism in Europe.
It has caused a huge storm in France with French minister for sport Valerie Fourneyron describing it as 'shocking' and 'disgusting'.
However, the 34-year-old insists he was not being racist but made the gesture in support of his friend, comedian Dieudonne.
'This gesture was just a special dedication to my comedian friend Dieudonne,' Anelka claimed on Twitter.
Dieudonne, who has past convictions for making anti-Semitic remarks, insists the 'quenelle' is merely 'an anti-establishment gesture'.
Nevertheless, the former France international still faces a possible ban from the Football Association who have promised a zero-tolerance approach to racism on and off the pitch.
A statement from anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out read: 'The campaign is in contact with partners in England and France regarding this matter and has offered its support to the Football Association in any forthcoming investigation.'
European Jewish Congress president Moshe Kantor said he hoped the former Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool striker would be punished in the same way as if he had performed the traditional Nazi salute.
West Brom's acting head coach Keith Downing played down claims about the celebration and said anything else being read into the display was 'absolute rubbish'.
'I'm aware of it but it has got nothing to do with what is being said,' he said.
'It is dedicated to a French comedian he knows very, very well. He uses it in his act and I think speculation can be stopped now.
'He is totally unaware of what the problems were or the speculation that has been thrown around, he is totally surprised by it.
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