ANTISEMITISM IN VENEZUELA: SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER PROTESTS TO THEORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
The Simon Wiesenthal Center today, on behalf of its 400,000 members, called upon Jose Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of theOrganization of American States (OAS) to take action against the outrageous anti-Semitic campaign taking place in Venezuela, one of its member states. The letter from the Center’sfounder and dean, Rabbi Marvin Hier, read in part: “Under the presidency of Hugo Chavez, the Jewish community of Venezuela has suffered repeated attacks, which were, at least tolerated, if notincited or promoted by State officials….This anti-Semitic campaign increased under the pretext of the recent war between Israel and Hamas.”
Though disguised as a pretended “anti-Zionist” campaign, Rabbi Hier said, an article published in the pro-government, digitalnewspaper Aporrea.org entitled “How to Support Palestine Against the Artificial State of Israel?” provided a plan of action against the Venezuelan Jewish community. Examples included:publicly denouncing members of Jewish groups in Venezuela and boycotting their companies and businesses; confiscating the properties of Jews who support Israel and donating the proceeds to thePalestinians; promoting the worldwide hacking of “pro-Zionist” websites as well as websites from governments or institutions which have favorable relations with Israel; and convening aninternational conference on the creation of the "Nazi" state of Israel as a genocidal European colony.
“…We believe it is time for the OAS to take action on this outrageous situation which makes a mockery of democratic andcivil liberties and guarantees. We urge you to establish an OAS special field mission… to immediately investigate the situation…and recommend punitive action against all those who areresponsible for this campaign of hatred against the Jewish people,” concluded Rabbi Hier.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of thelargest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, theOSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).
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