Caracas – Leaders of the Jewish community in Venezuela said about 50 people protested Israel’s airstrikes in the Gaza Strip outside the largest synagogue in Caracas.
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The Venezuelan Confederation of Israelite Associations said in a statement that the demonstrators hurled fireworks inside the synagogue on Thursday, disrupting activities and causing panic.
The organisation said the unidentified people shouted anti-Semitic slogans condemning Jews for the violence in the Middle East.
The organisation called on the government to guarantee security at places of worship.
The protest came a day after Israel and the Hamas militant group agreed to a cease-fire to end eight days of rocket attacks and airstrikes.
The Jewish confederation has previously expressed concern about anti-Semitic statements in Venezuela’s state media and has asked President Hugo Chavez’s government to ensure security at synagogues.
In 2009, a group of intruders broke into the same synagogue, shattering religious objects, spray-painting anti-Semitic slogans and stealing a computer database with names and addresses of Jews.
Authorities later arrested 11 people, including eight police officers, for alleged involvement. Chavez condemned that attack.
That incident occurred amid diplomatic tensions between the Israeli government and Venezuela. Chavez severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 in protest over its military offensive on the Gaza Strip that year.
Right…it’s not anti-Semitism, just anti-Zionism…of course
When will Chavez finally croak? Adios!
I visited Caracas in 2001, only because our cruise ship stopped nearby. The tour guide from Caracas was Jewish. At the time, I asked her how many Jews lived there. She stated around 20,000. Since that time, over half the Jewish community has left Venezuela, because of Chavez. It should be noted that in 1958, in Caracas, an anti-American mob attacked the car, which then Vice-President Nixon was riding in. They started to break the glass of the car, and were attempting to turn it over. One of the Secret Service Agents took out his gun, and stated that he was going to teach the mob a lesson. Fortunately, Nixon stopped him from shooting, and the local police eventually rescued Nixon, and dispersed the mob. Years later, when I mentioned that incident to some people from Caracas, who were visiting NYC, they stated “We are ashamed of what happened”.
Where is nk? This is a perfect chance to join anti-zionists in Venezuela. Everyone knows that a pro Iranian regime cannot hate Jews only Zionists.
Oldest trick in the book. When the masses are starving blame the Jews and the spotlight gets turned away from the real problems. My this mamzer Chavez expire already.