An armed gang has ransacked the oldest Jewish synagogue in the Venezuelan capital Caracas after occupying the building for several hours. bout 15 unidentified men broke into the building before daubing graffiti on the walls and desecrating scriptures. They also called for Jewish people to be expelled from the country. Jewish leaders say tensions have risen since Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with Israel this month over its recent military offensive in Gaza.
Elias Farache, president of Venezuela's Jewish Association, said the gang had tied and gagged security guards before destroying offices and the place where holy books were kept.
Anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli slogans were painted on the walls.
"Never in the history of Venezuela's Jewish community have we been the target of such an aggression," said Mr Farache.
"The climate is very tense. We feel threatened, intimidated, attacked."
'Moral force'
Venezuela and Israel have had strained relations for some time, and Caracas has been fiercely critical of Israel's military operations in Gaza, which started in late December.
The Venezuelan ambassador and his staff were ordered to leave the country on 6 January, and President Hugo Chavez has urged Israelis to stand up against their government.
Israel responded by ordering Venezuelan diplomats to leave, declaring them "persona non grata in Israel" earlier this week.
But Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro condemned the "criminal act of vandalism" at the synagogue.
"We call all the Venezuelan people, the entire Venezuelan community, to reject these actions, with the same moral force with which we reject the crimes committed against the Palestinian people," he said.
Venezuelan Information Minister Jesse Chacon also condemned the attack and denied it had any connection with the government.
He said the government's "excellent relationship" with Venezuela's Jewish community was in no way affected by Israel's actions.
Source: BBC NEWS
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Israel expels Venezuela envoy
Israel says it has ordered Venezuela's diplomats to leave the country, following the decision by Venezuela to sever diplomatic relations.
A week later, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez broke off ties.
Israel has now given its response, setting a deadline of Friday for the Venezuelans to leave.
Israeli foreign ministry official Lior Hayat said the Venezuelan head of mission in Tel Aviv, Roland Betancourt, and two colleagues are now "persona non grata in Israel".
President Chavez has been a strong critic of Israel's actions against Hamas militants in Gaza, and has called on Israelis to stand up against their government.
Venezuela's Foreign Ministry has said Caracas plans to denounce Israel's military actions at the International Criminal Court, according to the Associated Press news agency.
'Not anti-semitic'
Relations between Israel and Venezuela were already tense because of President Chavez's friendly relations with Iran, which backs Hamas and has called for Israel's destruction.
In an interview with Venezuelan state television channel VTV, the country's foreign minister Nicolas Maduro denied that the Venezuelan government was anti-Semitic.
Mr Maduro also denied that his government has relations with Hamas and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the French news agency AFP reports.
Israel declared an end to its three-week operation in Gaza on 17 January. Hamas followed with its own suspension of hostilities a day later.
More than 1,300 Palestinians, including 400 children, have been killed since Israel began its land, sea and air operations in Gaza. Fourteen Israelis have died.
Source: BBC NEWS
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Elias Farache, president of Venezuela's Jewish Association, said the gang had tied and gagged security guards before destroying offices and the place where holy books were kept.
Anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli slogans were painted on the walls.
"Never in the history of Venezuela's Jewish community have we been the target of such an aggression," said Mr Farache.
"The climate is very tense. We feel threatened, intimidated, attacked."
'Moral force'
Venezuela and Israel have had strained relations for some time, and Caracas has been fiercely critical of Israel's military operations in Gaza, which started in late December.
The Venezuelan ambassador and his staff were ordered to leave the country on 6 January, and President Hugo Chavez has urged Israelis to stand up against their government.
Israel responded by ordering Venezuelan diplomats to leave, declaring them "persona non grata in Israel" earlier this week.
But Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro condemned the "criminal act of vandalism" at the synagogue.
"We call all the Venezuelan people, the entire Venezuelan community, to reject these actions, with the same moral force with which we reject the crimes committed against the Palestinian people," he said.
Venezuelan Information Minister Jesse Chacon also condemned the attack and denied it had any connection with the government.
He said the government's "excellent relationship" with Venezuela's Jewish community was in no way affected by Israel's actions.
Source: BBC NEWS
------------------------------------
Israel expels Venezuela envoy
Israel says it has ordered Venezuela's diplomats to leave the country, following the decision by Venezuela to sever diplomatic relations.
Image via Wikipedia
A week later, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez broke off ties.
Israel has now given its response, setting a deadline of Friday for the Venezuelans to leave.
Israeli foreign ministry official Lior Hayat said the Venezuelan head of mission in Tel Aviv, Roland Betancourt, and two colleagues are now "persona non grata in Israel".
President Chavez has been a strong critic of Israel's actions against Hamas militants in Gaza, and has called on Israelis to stand up against their government.
Venezuela's Foreign Ministry has said Caracas plans to denounce Israel's military actions at the International Criminal Court, according to the Associated Press news agency.
'Not anti-semitic'
Relations between Israel and Venezuela were already tense because of President Chavez's friendly relations with Iran, which backs Hamas and has called for Israel's destruction.
In an interview with Venezuelan state television channel VTV, the country's foreign minister Nicolas Maduro denied that the Venezuelan government was anti-Semitic.
Mr Maduro also denied that his government has relations with Hamas and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the French news agency AFP reports.
Israel declared an end to its three-week operation in Gaza on 17 January. Hamas followed with its own suspension of hostilities a day later.
More than 1,300 Palestinians, including 400 children, have been killed since Israel began its land, sea and air operations in Gaza. Fourteen Israelis have died.
Source: BBC NEWS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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