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Chavez condemns attack on Caracas synagogue, blames opposition
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: israel news, anti-Semitism 

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday condemned an attack on a Caracas synagogue amid tense relations with Israel, suggesting it was plotted by opposition leaders to tarnish his self-styled socialist revolution.

Armed men broke into a synagogue in Venezuela's capital late on Friday night, destroying religious objects and spray-painting walls in what Jewish leaders called the worst attack ever on their community in Venezuela.

The socialist leader last month expelled the Israeli ambassador and cut diplomatic ties in protest over the military campaign in Gaza that killed nearly 1,300 people.
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"We condemn the actions on the synagogue of Caracas," Chavez said in a televised speech on Sunday. "It must be asked ... who benefits from these violent incidents. It is not the government, nor the people, nor the revolution."

In an often cryptic response, he suggested opposition leaders plotted the attack to reduce his chances in a February 15 referendum on a constitutional amendment that would let him stay in office after his term ends in 2013.


The Anti-Defamation League issued a response to the vandalization of Caracas' oldest synagogue saying it was "a modern day Kristallnacht" and "reminiscent of the darkest days leading to the Shoah."

Two security guards were overpowered by about 15 people who ransacked the
synagogue's sanctuary and offices on Friday, leaving graffiti such as: "We don't want murderers, and Jews, get out."

The incident forced the synagogue to cancel Saturday's worship service.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro condemned the attack, which came amidst Chavez's close relations with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The ADL said the incident was not random, rather it was "directly related to the atmosphere of anti-Jewish intimidation promoted by President Chavez and his government apparatus."

The ADL called for Chavez to "abandon the official government rhetoric of demonization of Israel and the Jews and to publicly denounce this wanton act of anti-Semitic violence."

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro condemned the attack and promised it would be investigated, while reiterating his government's opposition to what he called Israel's criminal government.

"We respect the Jewish people, but we ask respect for the people of Palestine and their right to life," Maduro said in a ceremony called to welcome home two Venezuelan diplomats expelled from Israel this week.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry ordered the envoys to leave after Venezuela
expelled all Israeli diplomats on January 6th, to protest Israel's offensive in the Gaza strip. Chavez labeled Israeli leaders as genocidal, as nearly 1,300 Palestinians are said to have died in the 22-day offensive in Gaza.

Leaders of Venezuela's estimated 15,000-member Jewish community warned that vocal denunciations of Israel by Chavez and the country's government-funded news media may have encouraged Friday's attack.

"These declarations permeate society," said Abraham Levy, president of the Venezuelan Confederation of Israelite Associations.

"We feel uncomfortable, threatened and intimidated," said Elias Farache, of the association.

The Argentine office of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization, condemned the attack and warned of an anti-Semitic campaign in Venezuela.

Chavez in 2005 sparked outrage in the Jewish community by stating that those who killed Jesus Christ had become the owners of the world's riches. A Venezuelan Jewish organization later came to Chavez's defense, denying the statement was anti-Semitic.

Related articles:
  • Israel expels Venezuela envoys, cuts ties with Caracas
  • To protest Gaza op, Venezuela gives Israeli diplomats 72 hours to leave e
  • ADL: Venezuela and Bolivia sending message that they side with Hamas
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      1.   Time and again it is Jewhaters masquerading as Anti Israel/Anti Z 02:31  |  Alan SA 01/02/09
      2.   demolish the venezuelan embassy in israel 02:35  |  vik 01/02/09
      3.   Chavez wants to make Israel stonger 06:35  |  judith 01/02/09
      4.   Venzuela Hate 06:38  |  Ori 01/02/09
      5.   Any country in bed with Iran should be ostrazised. 07:15  |  Fortuna Benmayor 01/02/09
      6.   It`s the same thing 07:30  |  Abdulaziz 01/02/09
      7.   Oh the irony... #4 07:31  |  Canadian girl 01/02/09
      8.   #2, typical Israeli response - punish innocents 07:45  |  Rick 01/02/09
      9.   The Unmentioned threat 07:46  |  Martin 01/02/09
      10.   Typical: Jew haters are incited to riot against 07:52  |  Gabe 01/02/09
      11.   attack on Jewish community 07:57  |  Ralph 01/02/09
      12.   A professional hit.Guards overpowered, security cameras disabled 08:36  |  PETER SM 01/02/09
      13.   State Terror 08:38  |  Yehoram 01/02/09
      14.   Terrorist and Communist Connection 08:46  |  Tom 01/02/09
      15.   attack on synagogue 08:54  |  Joy Thomas 01/02/09
      16.   This was not anti-semitism 09:00  |  Allon 01/02/09
      17.   Israel is waiting for you 09:01  |  Shmuel 01/02/09
      18.   When the Jews leave your country ! 09:06  |  ARIYA GOTHELF 01/02/09
      19.   Chavez the Zionist? 09:12  |  Eldar 01/02/09
      20.   Israel is the cause for the rise of antisemitism 09:15  |  Bandar Michaels 01/02/09
      21.   Bandar michaels 10:02  |  Shmuel 01/02/09
      22.   Venezuean "Brown Shirts" or red T Shirts..? 10:04  |  Stephen. 01/02/09
      23.   cancelling my vacation to Venezuala 10:08  |  danny 01/02/09
      24.   # 4 then how come you`re NOT there, ori? 10:12  |  eric 01/02/09
      25.   B.MICHAELS what a lame apology for allies of Iran 10:14  |  PETER SM 01/02/09
      26.   Why called vandals? They are anti semites Jews fight back!!! 10:30  |  arthur 01/02/09
      27.   Israel is the worst enemy of Jews in the Diaspora 10:51  |  Clickfool 01/02/09
      28.   "worst ever" 10:59  |  Woody 01/02/09
      29.   Venezuela follows in the footsteps of 11:22  |  Nechama 01/02/09
      30.   Yes, shame on them indeed..... 11:28  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/02/09
      31.   Shmual, I gree with almost all what you say, but! 11:34  |  Bandar Michaels 01/02/09
      32.   To Clickfool - YOU ARE WRONG 11:42  |  Ricardo 01/02/09
      33.   Go on, Mr Chavez, go on. Eat your white bread. 12:14  |  Israeli citizen 01/02/09
      34.   Clickfool and Bander Michaels:- you are mistaken 12:26  |  richelle 01/02/09
      35.   @ Joy Thomas 12:46  |  Paul 01/02/09
      36.   #23 Danny 12:57  |  db 01/02/09
      37.   Latin America , too dangerous place for jews 13:01  |  YCohen 01/02/09
      38.   Where are the human rights groups. Forgot, It is only jews 13:11  |  Alfredo 01/02/09
      39.   Some Questions to Ask 13:16  |  A Jewish Communist 01/02/09
      40.   Adl 14:14  |  John 01/02/09
      41.   Clkickfool - we`re talking about Venezuela 16:20  |  Magpie 01/02/09
      42.   Gree light from Chavez ! 16:23  |  Johann 01/02/09
      43.   Ariya Gothelf 18 - I heard the same story 20:30  |  ChanahS 01/02/09
      44.   anti- israel not anti-semitic 21:14  |  Gabriel Mor 01/02/09
      45.   Venezuelan Jews: come to Israel! 21:43  |  Oleh 01/02/09
      46.   Chavez has encouraged his people 23:13  |  Maria 01/02/09
      47.   Those who hate Israel, hate Jews - No Difference 23:14  |  Jesus Silva 01/02/09
      48.   Danny....why not take your vacation in Canada 23:18  |  Maria 01/02/09
      49.   #39 - You`ve got no clue 23:22  |  Gabi 01/02/09
      50.   DB...I read in a book that Israel 23:23  |  Maria 01/02/09
      51.   react 23:30  |  c. schmidt 01/02/09
      52.   Chavez...coca chewing grub 23:34  |  Lynn 01/02/09
      53.   I can believe it. 23:34  |  Maria 01/02/09
      54.   i`m from south america 23:34  |  jorge 01/02/09
      55.   #18 Ariya....it can`t get much worse in Venezuela 23:38  |  Lynn 01/02/09
      56.   #39 Communist 23:40  |  les 01/02/09
      57.   chavez El bolivariano 00:13  |  charro 02/02/09
      58.   Starting to dawn on him 01:34  |  Pepe 02/02/09
      59.   # 21 to shmuel re: anti-semitism (2nd try) 02:14  |  eric 02/02/09
      60.   BANDAR MICHAEL Israel had nothing to do with Wahabism or 02:26  |  PETER SM 02/02/09
      61.   #8, Rick, typical Israely responce? 02:27  |  Bruce 02/02/09
      62.   # so called jewish communist 02:37  |  Magpie 02/02/09
      63.   GABRIEL MOR .Antisemites have always painted all Jews as the same 02:40  |  PETER SM 02/02/09
      64.   44, Gabriel Mor, Anti-Israel is anti-semitic 02:42  |  Bruce 02/02/09
      65.   COMMUNISTHow much desecration of a Synagougue is acceptable? 02:44  |  PETER SM 02/02/09
      66.   venezuela 02:46  |  barry martin 02/02/09
      67.   Chavez as predictable, and disgusting, as ever 03:15  |  MichaelF 02/02/09
      68.   Chavez opposition was not supporting his anti-Israel rhetoric ! 03:59  |  Ramiro 02/02/09
      69.   Chavez condemns 04:45  |  Rocio 02/02/09
      70.   venezuela situation 08:38  |  miriam 02/02/09
      71.   Chavez 09:14  |  Ralph 02/02/09
      72.   One Message to these acts of violence 11:23  |  Gil 02/02/09
      73.   question 11:57  |  Jupy 02/02/09
      74.   BANKRUPT VENEZUELA JEWS LEAVE!! 12:31  |  Petra 02/02/09
      75.   # 18 MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY. 12:39  |  Petra 02/02/09
      76.   This must be the work of the opposition 12:40  |  mehmet 02/02/09
      77.   "pointless" Chavez revolution 12:45  |  willy 02/02/09
      78.   PETER SM-lets have some context 12:52  |  Ben Dover 02/02/09
      79.   Chavez knows full well, that Jews in Venezuela 13:05  |  Roo 02/02/09
      80.   JUPY here is the report from the Wiesenthal Center on incitement 13:10  |  PETER SM 02/02/09
      81.   Mehmet - it doesn`t need the CIA to make Chavez appear anti jew 13:43  |  Magpie 02/02/09
      82.   MY HEART IS BROKEN 13:47  |  indrajaya 02/02/09
      83.   INDRAJAYA"Peace lovers" in Indonesia demanded the only Synagogue 14:26  |  PETER SM 02/02/09
      84.   Let Venezuela continue its path to rot and squalor... 18:34  |  Mike 02/02/09
      85.   Jews take all your money, doctors, scientists, businesses.... 18:36  |  Jordan 02/02/09
      86.   gabriele Mor, the Jews and Israel have been together for 18:44  |  Steve -nyc 02/02/09
      87.   Banadar Michaels, if a Mosque is used to store weapons it is no 18:59  |  Steve -nyc 02/02/09
      88.   Jupy and Others 19:07  |  Paul G. 02/02/09
      89.   Petra #74 It`s the US who is bankrupt 21:23  |  Roo 02/02/09
      90.   Condemns? Chavez CAUSES attacks against Jews 21:32  |  David 02/02/09
      91.   Ben Dover - the answer is none 22:00  |  ChanahS 02/02/09
      92.   #44 Gabriel Mor 22:19  |  Moshe 02/02/09
      93.   #44 Gabriel Mor 22:31  |  Moshe 02/02/09
      94.   Viva Chavez, carajo, 00:11  |  Daniel 03/02/09
      95.   reply to fortuna 00:12  |  truth 03/02/09
      96.   #89 Roo 03:39  |  Moshe 03/02/09
      97.   #76 mehmet 04:05  |  Moshe 03/02/09
      98.   BENDOVER Context?OK.How many Churches in Venezuela have Israelis 06:04  |  PETER SM 03/02/09
      99.   #89 Roo 07:42  |  Daybreak 03/02/09
      100.   ROO OIf you have an accusation to make against " the Jews" 08:41  |  PETER SM 03/02/09
      101.   for 27 Clickfool 14:17  |  chasaboy 03/02/09
      102.   I HEAR A SILENCE. 20:12  |  jay 03/02/09
      103.   #102 Jay 00:31  |  Moshe 04/02/09
      104.   Daybreak/ moshe 10:29  |  Roo 04/02/09
      105.   Daybreak / Moshe 12:18  |  Roo 04/02/09
      106.   moshe 18:27  |  jay 04/02/09
      107.   You are right 02:38  |  Bernard 07/02/09
      108.   #94 Daniel, the Chavez admirer 13:46  |  Jonathan Wortman 07/02/09
      109.   Rally in Miami to support Venezuelan Jews 14:52  |  Jesus Hernandez 07/02/09
      110.   israel causes ant-semitism 01:13  |  moshe 28/02/09
      111.   Today`s issue 23:13  |  Charlotte Tomic 21/04/09
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