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Mr. Chavez vs. the Jews

[Washington Post] Editorial - Venezuela's Jewish community seems to have replaced George W. Bush as President Hugo Chavez's favorite foil. After Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza last month, the caudillo expelled Israel's ambassador and described Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide." Then Chavez turned on Venezuela's Jews. "Let's hope that the Venezuelan Jewish community will declare itself against this barbarity," he bellowed on a government-controlled television channel. Government media quickly took up the chorus. One television host close to Chavez blamed opposition demonstrations on two students he said had Jewish last names. On a pro-government Web site, another commentator demanded that citizens "publicly challenge every Jew that you find in the street, shopping center or park" and called for a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses, seizures of Jewish-owned property and a demonstration at Caracas's largest synagogue. On Jan. 30 the synagogue was duly attacked by a group of thugs, who spray-painted "Jews get out" on the walls and confiscated a registry of members.
2009-02-13 06:00:00
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