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

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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.

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Caracas Synagogue Attacked
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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.

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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."

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Comment
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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