Report: Venezuelan Jewish Community under High Threat

Febuary 2, 2009

Following the attacks on the Venezuelan synagoue, the Anti-Defamation League decided to file the report Chavez's Venezuela: The Jewish Community under threat. This act was the latest in the anti-semitism surrounding Venezuelans whose leaders, government officials, and media commentators have created an intimidating environment for the community. In the weeks following Israel's Operation Cast Lead the Jewish community of about 15,000 have been the targets of hateful rhetoric, intimidation, vandalism of property and threats of organized boycotts. Abraham H. Foxman, National director of the ADL, expressed his feelings on the situation saying, " The anti-semites in Venezuela feel emboldened and empowered by the rhetoric and actions of Hugo Chavez and his government. The most recent synagogue attack in Caracas did not happen in a vacuum. It took place in an atmosphere of intimidation and threats against the Jewish community that has been building for weeks, stoked by the vile comparisons of Israel's actions to the Nazi's coming from President Chavez and his regime."The ADL took a deeper look into the anti-semitic statements made by Chavez and other government officials and how the anti- Israel attitude fuels national anti- semitism. The problem with Venezuela is that anti-semitism is being used as a "political tool" . It comes from Chavez and spreads down throughout the system ultimately affecting the government on all levels and reaching the government- controlled media. Among the ADL findings; Chavez's inappropriate comments referring to operation Cast- Lead and the expulsion of Israeli diplomats, and his theory that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency was responsible for poisoning former Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat. The comments trickled down the system and anti- Israel comments were made by the foreign minister, interior minister, the president of the national assembly, congress members and governors across the country who support Chavez. There were several anti- Israel rallies held throughout Venezuela where Israel's actions were compared to those of the Nazi's during the holocaust and all of them left behind anti- Israel graffiti. Opinion articles appeared in all official government media condemning Israel and its actions and making claims such as the Jews are "double-agents" of Israel.There was a large stream of anti- Semitic comments made on government-related web sites, spreading myths of Jewish control of finances and economic interests and in one extreme case saying "Hitler did not finish the job." The ADL were encouraged by the support of the Venezuelan Jewish community coming from the opposition and independent media, giving them hope that this is the majority opinion.
It is a big step that an official interest group has finally expressed the persecution of the Jews in Venezuela as an issue. By citing and listing the different attacks against the Jews, the ADL made the threatening situation clear and showed the obvious government involvement. Their report now serves as a call to action for the world wide community.
Link to Original Article:http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASInt_13/5462_13.htm