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A VEE CORPORATION PRODUCTION

NOW-FEBRUARY 15

Speak Out Against
Venezuela's Chavez

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A36

February 12 2009

called Israel a "genocidal"
state that is willingly attacking
t is increasingly unsafe
the "peaceful, unarmed and
to be a Jew in Venezuela.
defenseless Palestinians."
The latest example of
Shamelessly manipulating
the growing hostility toward
history, Chavez dares to say
Jews came on Jan. 30, when a
that Israel withdrew from
Caracas synagogue was van-
Gaza in 2005 in order to be
dalized by armed perpetrators
able to attack the area and
who threw Torah scrolls and
get rid of all the Palestinians.
prayer books on the floor, and
He calls Israel "the murder-
Daniel S.
wrote on the walls "We don't
ous arm of the United States"
Mariaschin
want Jews here" and "Jews get
and claims that the CIA and
Special
out."
Israel's intelligence unit,
Commentary
This latest anti-Semitic act
Mossad, assassinated PLO
demonstrates once again the
leader Yasser Arafat in order
vulnerability of Jews in Venezuela. Over
to divide the Palestinian people.
the last few years, Venezuelan Jews have
Chavez also asserts that the United
been increasingly the target of ever-
States would like to have "other Israels"
bolder anti-Semitic attacks.
in Latin America to attack the Latin
Anti-Israel news is in abundance on
American people, and that it should not
Venezuelan state-controlled television
be allowed to do so.
and radio stations, which have been fea-
People may wonder why the president
turing excerpts from The Protocols of the
of Venezuela — a country that is so far
Learned Elders of Zion, the anti-Semitic
from the Middle East, and where Jewish
tract — proven to be a forgery — that
and Arab minorities have traditionally
claims a Jewish plot to rule the world.
had a peaceful coexistence — even has a
During the Gaza conflict, large swasti-
position on the conflict in Gaza, one that
kas connected to Stars of David by an
is more anti-Israel than the positions of
equals sign were painted on synagogues
the president of the Palestinian Authority
and other buildings associated with the
and other Arab leaders.
Jewish community.
Chavez has always been able to capi-
These alarming trends, including the
talize on the anti-American sentiment
attack on the synagogue, are a direct
prevailing in the region, and attacking
result of the atmosphere that Venezuelan
Israel — a staunch U.S. ally — provides
President Hugo Chavez is cultivating
the perfect opportunity.
and reflect the degree to which he has
His manipulation of the facts of the
made a mockery of his commitment last
Israeli-Palestinian conflict also unmasks
year with the presidents of Brazil and
his long alliance with Iran, the world's
Argentina to combat anti-Semitism.
largest state sponsor of terrorism as
Chavez is inciting hatred by singling
well as his profound sympathy for the
out Jews in Venezuela from their coun-
Iranian regime's extreme anti-Zionist and
trymen. The Venezuelan leader publicly
anti-Semitic agenda. Chavez and his ally,
urged Jews to stand up against Israel and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
compared the Israeli incursion in Gaza to share a frightening worldview.
the Holocaust. These disingenuous and
In their protest letter to Chavez, 75
irresponsible remarks have placed the
Holocaust scholars from all over the
Jewish people in Venezuela in a situation
world cite a 2008 U.S. State Department
of tremendous vulnerability.
report that lists "drawing comparisons of
In December, Chavez and his foreign
contemporary Israeli policy to that of the
minister, Nicolas Maduro, made incendi- Nazis" as an example of anti-Semitism.
ary statements about the situation in
It would seem naive to expect Chavez
the Gaza Strip that culminated in the
to renounce his views. But his insidious
expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from remarks must be publicly denounced lest
Caracas — more evidence of Chavez's
anyone, world leader or world citizens,
extreme ideology.
think his remarks are acceptable. To
Without making any serious analysis
remain silent is to be complicit.
of the context of the Gaza conflict or even
mentioning Hamas' years of terrorist
Daniel S. Mariaschin is executive vice-
attacks against Israel, the Chavez regime
president of B'nai B'rith International.

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