16 Congressmen Plead with Chavez to stop attacks against the Jews

February 3, 2009 El National

Following the attack on the synagogue, 16 congressmen from the House of Representatives sent President Hugo Chavez a letter asking him to please "put an end to the intimidation and hostility" of the Jewish community within Venezuela. Those who signed also asked the Venezuelan government,"to extend to the community the firm protection that they deserve with the light of the treaties which protect them and to lower the hostile tone of his rhetoric against the state of Israel to an appropriate level for the diplomatic dialogue." One of the congressmen is Elliot L. Angel, a New York democrat and the President of the Subcommittee for the Western Hemisphere. According to Engel," The time has come to speak firmly and clearly against the intimidation against the Jewish community that Chavez has created." While Chavez did denounce the attack on the synagogue saying that it "places shadows against his next victory", his close relationship with terrorist groups such as the Colombian FARC and his developing friendship with Iran instills fear that there is more to come. The letter reminded the World community that Chavez expelled the ambassador of Israel and is becoming closer with Iran who supports the destruction of the Jewish State. Tam Kahn, the President of the Latin and Latin american Jewish Committee of the United States, said that the increase in violence against the Jews shows a "complete lack of respect" for the Jewish community.
It is nice that these representatives wrote a letter denouncing Chavez's anti- Semitism, yet they could have gone way further and done more to help the Jewish community. Obviously a letter is not going to stop a dictator such as Chavez. While they wrote this letter with good intentions, they never took greater and more severe action past this point leaving the Jewish community with a lack of support and aid. Even though Chavez apologized it was in his own self- interest. He was not afraid of what would happen to the community, rather the way in which this event could damage his campaign. The World community needs to stop merely witnessing and criticizing the anti-semitism that is occuring and take action against the governement that supports it.

Link to Original Article : http://www.el-nacional.com/www/site/p_contenido.php?q=nodo/66759/Internacional/16-congresistas-piden-a-Ch%C3%A1vez-cesar-ataques-a-jud%C3%ADos