Venezuelan Synagogue Vandalizing Takes New Turn

Venezuelan Synagogue Vandalizing Takes New Turn: The Culmination of a Number of Anti-Semitic and Anti-Israel Incidents

One version is that on January 31, 2009 intruders proceeded to vandalize Tiferet Israel, a Sephardic synagogue in Caracas, Venezuela. The assailants, eight of whom were later discovered to be police officers, seem to be part of a growing and increasingly radicalized leftist group of ostensible government supporters. Such gangs recently have stepped up their intimidating attacks on elements of Chávez’s opposition; it is uncertain the degree of control that the Venezuelan president or his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) party has over their violent-prone behavior, or, for that matter, the full details of the attack on the synagogue.

But the assault by this group, if it is true, displayed no evidence of a forced break-in, perhaps because the synagogue security guard has been accused of cutting the electri c cables that led to the electric fence and security system. Once inside, vandals scattered sacred Torah scrolls on the floor, and painted "We don’t want Jews here", "Jews get out", and "Death to all" on the walls late Friday night and into Saturday morning.

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This analysis was prepared by COHA Director Larry Birns and Research Associate David Rosenblum Felson

Readership Responds to COHA’s Assessment of Chávez

COHA received the following letter from Max Ajl in response to its February 10 article 'Venezuela’s New Constitutional Reform 2009: If Not Chávez, then Whom? PSUV May No t Survive if Chávez Loses the Presidency', written by Research Fellows Alex Sánchez and Raylsiyaly Rivero. Below, the COHA Staff responds to Mr Ajl's criticisms and encourages further thoughtful contributions to the debate from its readership.

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This analysis was prepared by COHA Staff

Wednesday, February 11, 2009 | Press release 09.106

ENDS

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