Chavez using Jews as "scapegoats" in order to Gain Support

Forbes February 15,2009

Hugo Chavez has launched attacks against the Jews in order to gain support for the February 15 referendum,that if passed will allow him to run for president for life. Following the January 22 attacks on the Tifferet Israel synagogue, Chavez apologized even though a week before he had rallied his supporters to protest against the actions in Gaza. Following his expulsion of Israeli ambassadors, a pro- Chavez Web site suggested boycotting Venezuela's small Jewish community, forcing the Jews out from the country and launching protests against the Israeli government and Jewish Synagogues. That is exactly what occurred. A week before the vandalism protests broke out at the Israeli Embassy and vandalism covered the walls of the Venezuelan synagogue, while the police witnessed the situation without taking action. The synagogue security's cameras captured images of the offenders,but Chavez's police confiscated them for the investigation that produced no arrests. During the break in the tapes were taken by the offenders so the police would have no proof. Chavez has total control of the police force after he nationalized it, seizing power from opposition Mayor Antonio Ledezma. Since then the Mayor has had no influence against the anti-semitic attacks that occurred.This is not the first time the Jews have been used as scapegoats. In the past few years Chavez has sent military police into the schools and community to search for weapons and "assassination plots", when obviously nothing was found. Chavez's alliance with Iran has made him link Israel, the U.S. and the Jews in a plot to control the World through war and capitalism. Votes were against Chavez for election- for-life yet there was a good chance he would rig the votes to appear as if he won, as he had done in past referendums. Inflation, corruption and the highest murder rate in the world plaque Chavez's government and Chavez is simply looking for an enemy to blame for his failures. Chavez is attempting to scare his dwindling supporters into believing that the Jews will destroy the revolution and assassinate him, in hopes that people will sympathize with his "underdog" status.
This article delineates and reaffirms the fact that Chavez is involved in the anti- semitic plot in order to gain support. His involvement in the several attacks against the Jewish community is obvious and he can no longer deny it.The biggest fear for the Venezuelans, is the fact that he has seized control of the police force in order to sanction the attacks against them. As the article expresses," Chavez needs an enemy to blame for the missing eggs and meat at the market,soaring prices,rampant unemployment and crime- and who better than the Jews?" Chavez sadly went on to win the referendum meaning his plan of using the Jews as scapegoats worked. Through his overt hatred towards the Jews and a currently even stronger influential position in society, the Jewish Community's existence is becoming increasingly threatened.
Link to Original Article:http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/13/chavez-jews-referendum-opinions-contributors_0215_rowan_schoen.html