CARACAS SYNAGOGUE ATTACKED, CHAVEZ BLAMES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000135 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPT FOR AID/OTI (RPORTER) DEPT FOR DRL/SEAS (GRICKMAN) E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019 TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV PREL ASEC VE IS SUBJECT: CARACAS SYNAGOGUE ATTACKED, CHAVEZ BLAMES OPPOSITION REF: A. A. CARACAS 00070 ¶B. B. CARACAS 00032 ¶C. C. CARACAS 00020 CARACAS 00000135 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ, REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. A group of unidentified armed gunmen vandalized a prominent Caracas synagogue during the late night-early morning hours of January 30-31. The intruders appeared to have planned the attack well, defeating the synagogue's security system and subduing two contract guards. They not only sprayed the premises with anti-Semitic hate messages and desecrated Torah scrolls, but also removed computers and files and drilled two safes. The Charge, accompanied by the Canadian and French Ambassadors, met with Jewish community leaders at the synagogue the morning of February 2 to express his condolences. All three diplomats repudiated the attack in comments to the local media. President Chavez and other senior Government of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) publicly denounced the attack and promised a full investigation. At the same time, they implausibly blamed the opposition without offering any proof. In the wake of the worst anti-Semitic act in the memory of Venezuela's small Jewish community, local Jewish leaders are seeking expressions of international support and solidarity. End Summary. -------------- Caracas Synagogue Attacked -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Some 15 armed gunmen vandalized the Tiferet Israel synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Caracas, during the night of January 30 into the early morning hours of January 31. The highly organized gunmen subdued two guards at the Sephardic synagogue in the Mariperez district of the city and took control over the building for approximately four hours. The attackers desecrated the Torah, ransacked administrative areas and computer files, and scrawled anti-Semitic graffiti on the interior walls of the building. The anti-Semitic/anti-Israeli graffiti consisted of slogans that read "Property of Islam", "Get out, death to all", "Cursed Israel, death", "Die damned Israel", and "Jews out." ¶3. (SBU) The ChargQ reached out to leaders of the Jewish community in the wake of the attack on the synagogue to ask if he could visit on February 2 to express his condolences. Although some Jewish community leaders had been heretofore reluctant to display a connection with the United States because of constant Venezuelan government attacks on the USG, in this case they agreed to the visit and invited the Canadian and French Ambassadors to visit at the same time. Jewish community leaders showed the Charge and Canadian and French Ambassadors on February 2 the damage done to administrative offices, the library, and the synagogue itself, including desecrated Torah scrolls. All three diplomats spoke with local media at the synagogue to repudiate the attack on the synagogue. ¶4. (C) Synagogue officials and other Jewish community leaders told the Charge' and Emboffs that the attack was well planned. Two gunmen disconnected the power and video surveillance equipment prior to scaling the exterior perimeter wall. They subsequently opened the gate for the rest of the band, totaling about 15 persons. The intruders subdued the two contract guards, preventing them from seeking outside assistance. The 15 assailants, both male and female, reportedly were native Spanish speakers who sounded like members of the Venezuelan middle class. They ransacked administrative areas, stole computers and stored information, and used drills to gain access to two safes. The intruders removed the contents of the safe, including an undisclosed amount of cash and private documentation. -------------- - GBRV Condemns Attack, But Blames the Opposition -------------- - ¶5. (SBU) President Hugo Chavez condemned the attack during his nationally-televised February 1 speech to commemorate the birthdate of a 19th century Venezuelan land reform pioneer. At the same time, Chavez suggested opposition leaders plotted the attack to reduce his chances in the upcoming February 15 CARACAS 00000135 002.2 OF 002 constitutional amendment referendum to eliminate term limits. "We condemn the actions on the synagogue of Caracas, however it must be asked... who benefits from these violent incidents? It is not the government, nor the people, nor the revolution." Chavez pledged to demonstrate that it is the "violent oligarchy that is threatening to burn the country, and that we (Chavistas) are the bearers of peace." ¶6. (SBU) At a January 31 ceremony to welcome back to Caracas the two Venezuelan diplomats expelled from Israel in retaliation for the GBRV's decision to sever diplomatic ties, Foreign Minister Maduro also condemned the attack on the synagogue. Maduro said the GBRV would investigate and jail those responsible for the attack. At the same time, he asked for "respect for the Palestinian people and their right to life."Maduro also criticized what he called "an international campaign saying that we promote anti-Semitism. "Without offering any evidence, he also suggested that the opposition was probably behind the attack. ¶7. (SBU) Minister of Communication Jesse Chacon also rejected the acts of vandalism in a January 31 press conference. Chacon said, "The investigation has hardly begun, but already some channels are saying this was done by people close to the government. We reject that statement because the investigation hasn't shown anything like that." With only two weeks to go until the February 15 referendum to eliminate term limits, Chacon cast doubt upon the identity of the attackers blaming instead the opposition for the incident. "Groups are trying to create an atmosphere of tension that might change the trend of the (polling) surveys in the next 15 days." -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) The Venezuelan government has fomented intense anti-Israeli sentiments in Venezuela in the wake of Israel's 2006 intervention in Lebanon and Israel's recent incursion into Gaza. This is the background for the organized attack on Caracas' oldest synagogue, the worst act of anti-Semitism in the memory of any of Venezuela's small (some 15,000) Jewish community. Jewish community leaders expressed their appreciation for the expression of support from the U.S. Embassy and other diplomatic missions. They are also expressing concern about the potential for future -- and worse -- incidents of anti-Semitism, and now believe that international expressions of concern may be the best means to persuade the GBRV to stop fomenting anti-Semitism in Venezuela. CAULFIELD