JEWISH GROUP PROTESTS POLICE SEARCH OF CARACAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002327

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV VE
SUBJECT: JEWISH GROUP PROTESTS POLICE SEARCH OF CARACAS
HEBREW CENTER

REF: CARACAS 002174

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASON 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Summary. Venezuelan police searched the Caracas
Hebrew Center compound in the early morning of December 2,
several hours before polling stations opened for the
constitutional referendum. The police had a warrant to
search for drugs and weapons; they found nothing and left.
The Venezuelan Jewish community issued a public protest
through the media on December 4 calling the raid, the second
at the Center in less than three years, "unjustifiable."
Post is in close contact with Jewish community leaders; they
appreciate the USG's continued interest, but are not seeking
concrete USG follow-up. Embassy will look for opportunities
to raise concerns about anti-Semitism in Venezuela with
appropriate Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials.
End Summary.

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CAIV Protests Search
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2. (U) The Confederation of Israelite Associations of
Venezuela (CAIV),a prominent Jewish confederation, released
a December 4 press release to protest the early morning
police search of the Caracas Hebrew Center two days earlier.
CAIV notes that members of Venezuela's special police force
(DISIP) arrived at the Hebrew Center at 12:40 a.m., December
2 with a search warrant. The DISIP conducted an "exhaustive"
search of the compound, which includes the Hebrew School,
found nothing, and left. Police searched the same Hebrew
Center compound once in 2005 and found nothing then as well.


3. (U) In its press release, CAIV denounced "this new and
unjustifiable act against the Jewish community" and expressed
its "profound indignation" in wake of the DISIP raid. CAIV's
press release also requests the government to conduct "an
exhaustive investigation of the incident" which CAIV believes
was an attempt to "create unnecessary tensions between the
Venezuelan Jewish community and the national government."
CAIV reiterated its call for "peace, fraternity, and harmony
among Venezuelans without distinctions of any kind."


4. (C) Jewish community leaders told Emboffs that DISIP's
warrant was to search for drugs, arms, and explosives. They
also tell us that they chose not to protest the raid until
after the December 2 constitutional referendum to avoid
becoming a "side story" during voting. During the referendum
campaign, government-run media outlets alleged without proof
that Jewish leaders were funding anti-constitutional reform
efforts and trying to destabilize the Chavez government
(Reftel). Venezuelan voters narrowly rejected Chavez'
constitutional package.

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Embassy Actions
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5. (C) The Ambassador and Emboffs met November 9 with fifteen
Jewish community leaders to reinforce the USG's commitment to
promoting religious freedom in Venezuela. CAIV leaders are
well aware of the BRV's hostility toward the USG and did not
ask for specific USG assistance at that time (Reftel).
Poloff spoke December 10 with CAIV Vice President David
Bittan, who said the Venezuelan Jewish community remains
concerned and indignant in the wake of the December 2 search
of the Caracas Hebrew Center. Bittan said the CAIV board
very much appreciates the USG's continuing interest as well
as expressions of support from American Jewish organizations.
CAIV, however, is not seeking any specific USG follow-up at
this time.


6. (C) Comment: Embassy will continue to stay in close
contact with Jewish community leaders and look for
opportunities to raise concerns about growing anti-Semitism
in Venezuela with appropriate BRV officials. End Comment.

FRENCH