Is it a coincidence that in an authoritarian socialist state that has sidled up to the world's most dangerous Islamist state is home to an increasing spree of violence targeting the Jewish community? Is it a spree being directed by Hugo Chavez out of bigoted or self-aggrandizing reasons? Or is any collectivist nation dominated by a strongman an inevitable incubator of anti-Semitism and scapegoating of its Jewish minority?
Whatever the answers, Venezuela is providing the evidence.
Observers like the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Latin America expert Andres Oppenheimer cite “a well-orchestrated [anti-Semitic] campaign” that has been taking place on Venezuela’s government sponsored radio and television stations, newspapers and websites such as Aporrea.
Stoking anti-Semitic fervor, such outlets frequently compare Israel to Nazi Germany and denounce “international Jewish conspiracies.” Meanwhile, an association of reporters urged Venezuelans to boycott local businesses owned by Venezuelan Jews. And the media is not alone in fueling anti-Jewish incitement.
As in any authoritarian state, the media parrot the line originated by their leader, President Hugo Chavez. His bombastic condemnation of Israel’s invasion of Gaza shaded into overt anti-Semitism, and the nation is aware of his increasingly close ties with Iran’s Islamist regime.
Tensions escalated sharply in early January, when Chavez expelled Israel’s ambassador to protest Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Shortly thereafter, approximately 15 individuals attacked the Tiferet synagogue in Caracas.
According to Paul Hariton of the Caracas Ashkenazi community, the January 30 attack “was a well-organized event. The attackers were heavily armed. They jumped a wall and overcame two guards. They even took the videotape out of the security camera before they left.” The president of the Jewish Organization of Venezuela says that “the hoodlums occupied the building” for five hours, during which time “they profaned the holy Sefer Torah, which is the Jewish holy book of prayer and laws.”
In an ominous sign for the rest of Venezuela's Jewish community, the hoodlums also stole a computer database containing the names and addresses of all the synagogue’s members.
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