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. -------------- CAIV Protests Search -------------- ¶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. -------------- Embassy Actions -------------- ¶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