Chavez Pleads with the Jewish community to not Allow Themselves to Be Misled by the Opposition

February 6,2009 El Nacional

President Chavez denied that he was anti-semitic and asked the Jewish Community "to be smart as they usual are" and not allow themselves to be misled by the opposition. He asked the leaders of the Jewish community to not view that attack as a "political act". Chavez insisted, " I do not hate the Jews and I call to the Jewish Venezuelans that they not be used" by the opposition."The Government as usual will extend their hands and reject any type of aggression against a Jewish, Christian or Protestant temple", Chavez added. The chancellor Nicolas Maduro had expressed earlier to the Venezuelan Jewish community the anger of the government due to the attacks on the Synagogue. The Confederation of Israeli Associations of Venezuela said that in the meeting with Maduro they denounced the "continuous anti- Jewish attacks expressed in different forms of communication that pertain to the national government." They went on to reject the opposition that plan to "include" the Jewish community in a plan of conspiration against the national government by trying to convert this attack into a political deal. They also asked the government to not make comments dealing with the Middle East because it places the Jewish community in a "hostile" and uncomfortable position.
The fact that both sides tried to use this anti-Semitic attack to improve their own political stance is repudiable and a problem itself. Chavez again only apologized because he did not want the Jews to join the opposition since it would have risked the victory he needed to stay in power. One of the most anti- semitic attacks in Venezuelan history had occured and yet both sides were just trying to twist it for their own benefit. This article stresses the national apathy both sides feel towards the Jewish plight.

Link to original article: http://www.el-nacional.com/www/site/p_contenido.php?q=nodo/67261/Pol%EDtica/Ch%E1vez-pidi%F3-a-los-jud%EDos-no-dejarse-utilizar-por-la-oposici%F3n