Demonstrators fear anti-Semitism in Venezuela
By FABIOLA SANCHEZ, Associated Press Writer – Tue Feb 3, 4:37 pm ET
CARACAS, Venezuela – Dozens of demonstrators waving banners reading "Hate Only Sows Hate" and "Coexist" gathered Tuesday in front of the United Nations' local offices to protest an attack on a Jewish synagogue and to warn against what some fear is a growing tide of anti-Semitism.
Roughly 100 protesters condemned the Jan. 30 attack on a Caracas synagogue that has raised concerns of religious intolerance.
"We're in shock because nothing like this occurred in Venezuela before," said Mercedes Benmoha, 28, a teacher who helped organize the protest. "We all have the right to practice our religion in peace and tranquility."
An armed group vandalized the capital city's oldest synagogue last week, shattering religious objects, throwing Torah scrolls on the floor and spray-painting walls with anti-Semitic messages amid Venezuela's diplomatic spat with Israel over its military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Venezuelan authorities are investigating the incident, but no suspects have been arrested.
Leaders of Venezuela's estimated 15,000-member Jewish community have complained that vocal denunciations of Israel by President Hugo Chavez and Venezuela's state and pro-government news media may have encouraged the attack.
Chavez has condemned the attack, and suggested that government adversaries eager to portray his socialist administration as anti-Semitic could have been behind it.
Venezuela's Jews also are concerned about Chavez's increasingly close relationship with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map."
Venezuelan official visits synagogue after attack
Feb 12, 1:41 PM EST, U.S. News & World Report
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela's foreign minister visited a synagogue on Thursday that was recently attacked by vandals and promised the country's Jewish community that authorities would determine who was responsible for the assault.
During a visit to the Tiferet Israel Synagogue in Caracas, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro told Venezuelan-Israelite Association president Elias Farache that investigations would continue until police "get to the bottom of the truth."
Authorities have arrested 11 people, including eight police officers, suspected of ransacking and vandalizing the synagogue on Jan. 30. The assailants shattered religious objects, spray-painted "Jews, get out" on the temple's walls and stole a computer database with names and addresses of Jews living in Venezuela.
One of the synagogue's security guards and a police officer who authorities say worked as a bodyguard for a local rabbi are among the 11 suspects under arrest. Police are currently searching for four more suspects.
Farache thanked the government for "returning peace and tranquility to our congregation" and praised federal police "for apprehending the perpetrators."
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has repeatedly condemned the attack, which has raised concerns of rising anti-Semitism and religious intolerance in Venezuela.
The president has accused opposition groups and Venezuela's privately owned news media of attempting to incite "a religious war" by unjustly accusing his government of fomenting anti-Semitism.