CHAVEZ BREAKS RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL/JEWISH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000070

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT FOR AID/OTI (RPORTER)
DEPT FOR DRL/SEAS (GRICKMAN)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2029
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC VE IS
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ BREAKS RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL/JEWISH
COMMUNITY ALARMED AT RISE IN ANTI-SEMITISM

REF: A. CARACAS 00020

B. CARACAS 00032

CARACAS 00000070 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: A/POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON, REASON 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Summary. The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela (GBRV) officially broke diplomatic relations with
Israel on January 14. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro
announced the rupture in diplomatic relations via a
communique disseminated via state media that simultaneously
condemned Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip. The MFA
announcement comes on the heals of the January 6 expulsion of
the Israeli ambassador and members of his staff from
Venezuela (Ref A). The GBRV's strong reaction to events in
Gaza likely appears to have more to do with domestic politics
in the lead-up to Chavez's February 15th referendum to
eliminate term limits. At the same time, Venezuela's small
Jewish community is alarmed at a recent precipitous rise in
the number of anti-Semitic incidents, including virulent
anti-Israeli graffiti, increased numbers of offensive
editorials and cartoons in state sponsored media, and
pro-Palestinian government rhetoric. Jewish organizations in
Venezuela have received numerous telephone threats, and two
prominent Jewish rabbis are temporarily residing outside
Venezuela due to security concerns. Cognizant of the GBRV's
antipathy toward the United States, Venezuelan Jewish leaders
are not seeking USG assistance at this time. End Summary.

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Venezuela Breaks Relations With Israel
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2. (SBU) The GBRV announced its suspension of diplomatic
relations with Israel on January 14. In a communique
disseminated by state media, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro
expressed Venezuela's solidarity with a similar decision
taken by President Evo Morales in Bolivia, and simultaneously
called on the international community to punish Israeli
leaders via the International Criminal Court for the military
action taken in Gaza. According to the official statement,
"The Government of Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with
Israel in protest over the offensive in the Gaza Strip and
the attitude of the Hebrew State, which has not taken into
consideration the calls of the international community to end
the violence." The GBRV's announcement comes on the heels of
the January 6 expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and members
of his embassy staff.

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Anti-Semitism Increasing
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3. (SBU) There has been a marked increase in
anti-Israel/anti-Semitic graffiti in Caracas and other
Venezuelan cities following the military action in Gaza.
Intolerance is typically expressed through the use of symbols
equating the State of Israel with fascism, such as graffiti
painted on the walls of the cathedral in Maracay depicting
the Star of David with a swastika inside accompanied by the
words "Israel and Assassins." Poloff observed a car in
Maracay painted with the words "Arrest the Jews" across the
rear windshield. Similar graffiti and anti-Israeli rhetoric
has been spray-painted in locations in Caracas, including the
National Assembly, downtown plazas and office buildings, and
the perimeter walls of the Maripez synagogue (Ref B).


4. (SBU) The pro-Government Diaro VEA newspaper has published
several offensive political cartoons and editorials related
to Israel's intervention in Gaza. For example, a December
30, 2008 VEA cartoon depicts two skeletons representing the
United States and Israel surrounded by a pool of Palestinian
blood congratulating themselves. A January 15 VEA cartoon
depicts a Palestinian man holding a dead child accompanied by
the words "Get Out of Palestinian Territory Zionist
Assassins." In November 2008, VEA printed editorials and
cartoons accusing the opposition Miranda State Governor
Henrique Capriles Radonski of being a Zionist in the pocket
of Israel. Although state media criticism of the United
States and Israel is not new, the scope and intensity of the
rhetoric have increased since the military action in Gaza
began.


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5. (C) David Bittan, First Vice-President of the
Confederation of Jewish Associations in Venezuela (CAIV),
told poloffs January 12 that CAIV and other Jewish
organizations have received numerous telephone death threats.
In addition, he noted that one prominent local rabbi left
the country on the advice of security personnel contracted by
the Jewish community. Another prominent rabbi who was
already out of the country is delaying his return
indefinitely. In response to increased acts of graffiti and
anti-Israel demonstrations, the Hebrew School in Caracas
delayed its opening for several days. Bittan said a downtown
Caracas Jewish merchant was physically assaulted on the
margins of a discussion of Gaza. Bittan noted that CAIV is
wary of asking for police support from the central government
out of fear that the GBRV is interested in discrediting, not
helping, the Jewish community.


6. (C) Bittan said he objected to public appeals by President
Chavez and Foreign Minister Maduro that the Venezuelan Jewish
community publicly criticize Israel's actions in Gaza. CAIV
published large advertisements in major local newspapers on
January 16 criticizing the GBRV's decision to sever
diplomatic ties with Israel and reminding the GBRV that it
has a responsibility to protect the security of all its
citizens. The CAIV advertisement also notes that CAIV
"shares the pain for the tragic loss of lives that the
conflict has caused." Bittan told poloffs that he believes
the current spate of anti-Semitism in Venezuela is worse than
the summer of 2006 after the Israeli intervention in Lebanon.
Well aware of the GBRV's antipathy toward the USG, CAIV is
not seeking USG assistance.

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Comment
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7. (C) The GBRV's strong reaction to events in Gaza likely
appears to have more to do with domestic politics in the
lead-up to Chavez's February 15th referendum to eliminate
term limits. Despite a December 17 communique signed between
President Hugo Chavez (Venezuela),President Cristina
Kirchner (Argentina) and President Lula Da Silva (Brazil)
promising to reduce religious intolerance and discrimination,
the GBRV appears to be fanning the flames of anti-Israel
feeling for political expediency. On January 5, President
Chavez publicly called Israel's government "Genocidal... a
government of assassins," and since then GBRV officials are
vocally expressing support for the Palestinians in a way that
fails to distinguish between criticism of Israel and
hostility toward Jews. GBRV officials and state media
outlets are regrettably engaging in sweeping and virulent
attacks on Israel that are fostering an anti-Semitic
environment inside Venezuela.

CAULFIELD