AJC Concern for Venezuela Jewry on Rise After Synagogue Attack

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC today expressed deepening concerns for the security and safety of the Jewish community in Venezuela, after a brazen attack during the Sabbath on a synagogue in Caracas.

"The total disrespect of a Jewish house of worship reflects the escalating climate of hostility towards Jews in Venezuela," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. "The wanton desecration of holy books is disheartening and inexcusable."

The attackers struck at 10 p.m. and continued their assault until around 3 a.m., vandalizing the offices of the Venezuelan Jewish community's central organization, tossing Torah scrolls and other holy books on the floor, and leaving graffiti on the synagogue walls that read "We don't want Jews here" and "Jews get out."

"There are strong indications that what we are witnessing is a state-sponsored campaign of anti-Semitic persecution, spurred by both Venezuela's alliance with the Iranian regime and the surge of anti-Israel rhetoric during the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas," said Harris. "We call on the international community to declare its solidarity with Venezuela's Jewish community and to make clear to President Chavez that further escalation will not be tolerated."

AJC has spoken out with alarm before about the ongoing threats to the Jewish community in Venezuela, and apparent lack of concern by the Chavez government in countering the rising number of anti-Semitic incidents and providing adequate security.

In 2004 and again in 2007, Venezuela police raided the Hebraica, the Caracas complex housing the Jewish community center and school.

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Targets of Hate in U.S. and Canada Note Suspicious Activity

Violence appears to be escalating. Be careful, America, and take these stories to heart. Americans are being targeted by terrorists on American soil.

Jewish Synagogues, Schools in the U.S. & Canada Targets of Hate

By Douglas J. Hagmann, Director
11 January 2009

On January 6 2009, the Northeast Intelligence Network issued a warning to Jewish centers and synagogues in the United States and Canada to be vigilant for possible violence targeting these locations by resident Muslim extremists and pro-HAMAS supporters. In the five days following the issuance of that warning, four synagogues in greater Chicago, Illinois, including one Jewish school, two Jewish synagogues in West Knoxville, Tennessee, and a synagogue in Edmonton, Alberta Canada have been the targets of hate......
http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/20090111JewishWarning

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Terrorists Chatter about U.S. Jewish Centers

This story was released yesterday. Americans should take heed.

Warning to U.S. Jewish Centers

6 January 2009: Despite official U.S. intelligence reports denying specific threat information as a result of Israeli action in Gaza, the Northeast Intelligence Network has confirmed increased terrorist “chatter” that specifically suggests pre-operational planning by Muslim terrorist operatives against Jewish assets and people throughout North America. “Chatter,” in the lexicon of intelligence agencies, encompasses various forms of communications, from communication intercepts to postings on Arabic language message boards.....

Click to read the full story.

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World Jewish Congress Outraged by False Statement by UN General Assembly President

Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, expressed outrage over the statement made be United Nations General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann falsely accusing Israel of "collective punishment," "targeting civilians," and "disproportionate military response."

"These accusations are patently false and constitute an unprecedented demonstration of deep bias against Israel in a statement from a president of the United Nations General Assembly," said Lauder. "As Hamas, the Iran-backed terrorist organization that is running Gaza, has placed its rocket launchers and munitions amongst the crowded civilian population and hides among those very citizens while it wages missile warfare on innocent Israeli citizens, it alone bears the blame for the civilian casualties. Israel has specifically targeted Hamas installations of terror and used pinpoint strikes in order to do its utmost to avoid hitting civilians."

"The international community for far too long has ignored the thousands of rockets and Qassam missiles rained down on Israeli towns from Gaza, even during a 'lull', continued Lauder. "A first and final responsibility of a state is to protect its citizens. Not only has Israel showed remarkable restraint and care to avoid citizen casualties, truckloads bearing massive amounts of aid are being sent to Gaza from Israel in a generous humanitarian gesture. It is finally time for the international community to recognize that Israel has the right and obligation to defend her citizens from unrelenting attack, as has every other member state in the United Nations. We hope that the United Nations will finally see the light and stand up for Israel's right to defend itself against a terrorist organization bent on undermining any remote chance for peace."

The World Jewish Congress is the international organization representing Jewish communities in over 80 countries around the world. The WJC serves as the diplomatic arm of the Jewish people to governments and international organizations.

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