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Report: Venezuela’s Intelligence Service Is Spying on the Country’s Jewish Community

Feb. 4, 2013 8:59am Sharona Schwartz

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gestures before voting in Caracas on October 07, 2012. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Leaked documents published on an Argentinean website show that Venezuela’s intelligence service SEBIN has been spying on Venezuela’s small Jewish community as well as on organizations that do business with Israel.

The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) National Director Abraham Foxman said he is “deeply troubled” by the reported policy and condemned it in a statement:

Venezuela under the regime of Hugo Chavez has a history of harassing the Jewish community in that country. It is chilling to read reports that the SEBIN received instructions to carry out clandestine surveillance operations against members of the Jewish community, as described in detail in documents leaked by the Argentinean web site, Analisis24.

In a country where the government and some of its followers have publicly accused the Jewish community of disloyalty and where the community’s institutions and houses of worship have been attacked, reports of this kind of surveillance add fuel to an already incendiary atmosphere inciting prejudice and hate. For more than a decade, elements of the Venezuelan government-run media and the so-called “alternative” media operated by Chavez government supporters have regularly engaged in spreading anti-Jewish conspiracy theories and promoting anti-Semitic stereotypes.

During the presidential elections in October, President Hugo Chavez employed anti-Semitic barbs to vilify his opponent Henrique Capriles Radonski, a Catholic of Jewish descent. A Tel Aviv University report examining the election campaign described Chavez’s methods which included: “defamation, intimidation and conspiracy theories, many of which portray Capriles as a Zionist agent, and by mixing classic and neo-antisemitism.”

American Jewish organizations including the ADL and Simon Wiesenthal Center slammed Chavez’s efforts to suggest his opponent was disloyal due to his Jewish roots. The Simon Wiesenthal Center pointed to a column on the state-run Radio Nacional de Venezuela’s website which described the Jewish ancestry of opposition leader Radonski only to then label him a secret follower of Zionism, a movement the website described as “the most rotten sentiments represented by humanity.”

Abraham Foxman of the ADL said then: “Blatant and persistent anti-Semitism is used by President Chavez and his government apparatus as a divisive political tool.”

“What we are seeing at the outset of Venezuela’s presidential elections is an attempt to cast the opposition candidate as a ‘traitorous Jew’ who is unworthy of the presidency,” he added.

The ADL provides more detail on the Argentinean news report:

The Analisis24 article suggests there is an official government policy targeting Venezuela’s Jewish community. We strongly condemn these dangerous intimidation tactics and call on the current leadership of the Venezuelan government to immediately cease targeting the Jewish community.

The Analisis24 report, which has since been republished on at least one web site Venezuela, included several documents, mainly from 2010, with specific, private and official information about Jewish Venezuelans. For instance, among the documents posted are the official passport information of members of an NGO related to Holocaust remembrance, including all entry and exits from the country and where the members traveled.

Since Chavez came to power in 1999, there has been an upsurge in anti-Semitism in the Latin American country while its president has forged warm ties with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a leader who has stated his desire to destroy Israel.

Not surprisingly, during Chavez’s reign, the Jewish community has dwindled from 30,000 to just 9,000.

(H/T: JTA)

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Comments (46)

universalphilos
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:38am
Since Venezuela accepts direct flights daily of soldiers (or Hezbollah) from Iran, renamed for Hitler’s Aryan race, hatred comes to mind, as reminded in this prophecy, April 15, 1977: “We shall bring forth into your mind a country, that that you would call of Germany. And it did bring forth and give power unto one man who gave power unto others, as Beasts, and through that power they did mutilate and destroy millions of people upon the earth. They did persecute those of the Jewish faith, not because of their faith, but because of their nationality. They did not stop and ask them, “Are you good Germans? Do you love your country?” Nay. They just destroyed them. They mutilated them. They raped the land as they raped the women….”
“We have come to bring forth the preparation for the coming of the Messiah. And we say unto those who should defile and use the Lord’s name in vain, woe be upon them, and woe be upon the nations who should worship the Beast. For the Beast’s life shall be short-lived.
We have said before that nothing from either side shall interfere in this work.
And the land shall be smitten. And the Sword shall strike. And the mightiest shall fall aside.
The Lord came unto you through Abraham, and Moses, and Isaiah, and John, and Jesus, and Buddha, and Mohammed – not to separate you, but to give each of you, as you have built our Father’s many mansions, knowledge….”
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/aup_messiah/1977April15.audio.html

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TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:07pm
See our shocked faces???? No, I didn’t think so…

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LeFaux Jew
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:02pm
This is neeews?
Everyone spies on their Jewish communities!

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welovetheUSA
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 2:32pm
Sure is taking too long for this idoit to die………

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EvanSVA
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:57pm
Anti-Semitism in S. America has a long history. I can tell you I have witnessed it personally. Chavez is a fool. But what is more foolish is the American Jews that support the democratic party. If you ask most jews that have lived under communism or socialism they would tell you how horrible it is and how they would never support it. Many Jews are fooled by American Socialism. They don’t understand socialism and how they would be treated under socialism. Jews want the freedom to practice their religion and not be persecuted. And they think that by supporting the “democrats/liberals/socialists” they have the best chance for that to happen. Oh how foolish they are. So many liberals are anti-religion to begin with and just like in other countries where socialism spread, the jews were some of the first to be persecuted. Let’s look at the best example: The leaders of the Russian Revolution: Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev: all jews: all dead within a few years. Wake-up Liberal American Jews: We cannot allow socialism to even take root in America.

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- dc5
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 3:29pm
  I absolutely agree with you! American Jews are a disgrace and continuously vote against their interest. It’s as if they didn’t learn a thing from history.
  
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- decendentof56
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 5:05pm
  With regards to the illogical Jewish support for- what has become- the Communist Democratic Party here in the US, and how it has turned to mush the minds of not just Jewish people, but “white guilt” idiots in general, may I suggest you watch this video……For those with ADD, there are shorter versions (5+ min) on UT, but this is the full-length version. You will not be sorry you invested the time.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gnpCqsXE8g
  
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- decendentof56
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 6:44pm
  @Evansva…..”Anti-Semitism in S. America has a long history. I can tell you I have witnessed it personally.”
  Yes, and everyone has witnessed “anti” something or other directed at them on more than one occasion. It’s just that the Jews have anyone afraid to say ANYTHING negative about them.
  Saul Alinsky was born to Russian Jewish immigrants, and set the standard for deamonization of any person who would raise objection against the Marxist agenda.
  
  Report this comment
- LeFaux Jew
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:11pm
  That is because after the Roman Church blamed Jews for the death of Jesus in the Christian Bible, they were seen as greedy capitalist. So throughout the centuries they have tried to distance themselves from this.
  
  Report this comment
breedofthe45
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:29pm
Socialists and Jews can’t get along? Gee I wonder why? Could be that Socialism is an antisemitic Ideology? After all Karl Marx and Engels were not shy to express their hatred against those Capitalist Jews. The Nazis [NATIONAL SOCIALISTS!!!!] also did not got along with Jews either. Maybe is time to make a new Law called: Separation from Socialism and State, how about that, can we do that? After all Jews are people too Mr.Socialists, can they also be in your Diversity Godless Tree Club?

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- decendentof56
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 5:42pm
  Breed……
  Though there are many patriotic Jewish Americans, when you look at those who are pushing the socialist agenda in America, you cannot get past the fact that many are Jewish. Of course, we have the racially-charged Barbara Lee’s and Maxine Waters’ of the world, but when they are done being used, they will face the music.
  All but ONE member in both houses of Congress who are Jewish are Democrats. Sorry, I’m not responsible for the facts! Their agenda speaks for itself. Look it up for yourself, just not on HuffPro.
  You just have to think….How short-sighted can these people be? Apparently…VERY!
  Watch this video to see how the US has become dumbed-down to the point that we actually WANT what the Soviet Union fought to keep. There are shorter (5+ min) versions, but this is the full-bore story.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gnpCqsXE8g
  
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G-WHIZ
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 12:00pm
Why doesn’t the Jewish-Community move out of HIS Kingdom and take their taxdollars with them!!

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 12:51pm
  Nothing the beloved Jewish state of Israel doesn’t do.
  
  http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/u-s-jew-indicted-as-possible-israel-spy-1.265740
  
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- muffythetuffy
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:09pm
  THE AMERICAN COMMUNISTS CALL THEM THE RICH..
  
  The Venezuela Communists call them THE JEWS. In America they say the RICH do not pay their fair share. In Venezuela they say the JEWS do not pay their fair share. JEWS and RICH are both four letter words.
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:21pm
  Jerk
  Do you really believe the US doesn’t spy on Israel? Moreover, many American Jews have denounced the incident you reported, especially since it made all Jews suspect. Even staunch supporters of Israel found the incident distasteful.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:21pm
  Imagine the whack job Jihad Jerk glossing over every story until his beloved Jews pop up and give it a chance to spew. Imagine that. What up nazi?
  
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- ofass
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 3:08pm
  My opinion is to avoid any contact with this scam bag or any other Nazi here. Their all goal is to let you argue their nonsense but on my opinion the best way is to let them bark without any comment. It will take time but it will do. The funny thing is that they think anyone will change his opinion because of their bull crap…:)
  
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RaydocX
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:31am
and you don’t think the alphabet soup here is watching our emails and catching our cell calls?
poring over Blaze posts and back tracing who is who?
it’s almost required of the Left… decry the infringement of human rights when the opposition is in power, but quietly endorse it for personal/ political gain when you have power.

or read another way… to keep the sheeple under their thumb, they have to be able to know if there is a building wave of opposition.

Hugo is merely too dumb or technologically handicapped to apply the methodology to everyone. i’m betting the former, since he seems to have embraced an anti religious viewpoint and dedicated to a single religion that has contributed to every society where they have lived…

but Progressives aren’t any less biased or prejudiced than the rest of the population, they’re merely better at masking it with flowery rhetoric and saying one thing while doing another.

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- woodyee
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 11:08am
  “they’re merely better at masking it with flowery rhetoric and saying one thing while doing another.”
  
  It’s one reason why I really find it funny, when, a Lib/Leftist comes here and accuses Conservatives of being gullible. Boy…either their right hand doesn’t know what their left is doing, or they are really, TRULY stupid.
  
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servant100
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:18am
Wow…this tyrant who models himself after so many other bananna republic dictators has a formal mutual defense treaty with the Iranians and overtly supports similar muslim nutcases in the middle east. He hates the USA, but makes his money being our chief supplier of oil. (thanks environmentalists for creating the fantasy world that the USA needs to import foreign oil from nutcase morons like this when there is over 1500 years of oil and gas reserves in the ground just waiting to be developed and refined…)

That this irrelevant thug hates Jews is not suprising…..after all every monster going back to Trajan and Nero…through Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao all reflect their spiritual mentor…who has hated the Jewish race from its beginning….

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rockymtngal
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:09am
While Hugo spies on the Jewish community, Obama spies on everyone who doesn’t agree with him, here in America.

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- servant100
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:22am
  And don’t forget… Comrade Obama has all civilian Federal agencies purchasing and stockpiling ammunition, weapons, and other military gear like there is no tomorrow. Remember his off hand comment in 2008 that we needed a civilian force LARGER than the US Military to “guard democracy?” The similarities to Uncle Adolf’s Brown Shirts and SS is fairly obvious to even the uninformed.
  
  Somebody in this mess seems to be operating with hidden agendas again.
  
  Gee..Ya Think…???!!!
  
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Walkabout
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:44am
70% of Jews vote for Obama. Obama and/or his supporters love Hugo Chavez. So they must be okay with this persecution.

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- circleDwagons
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:05am
  Both Hugo and obama love the people. There will be rejoicing one day
  
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AUsername
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:33am
If Marco Rubio became president these people would flood in America and get amnesty. If the dream act passes this culture will make its way to America. this is why nobody can be president that supports amnesty. otherwise these people will attack and destroy American culture.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:43am
  IF frogs had pockets, they could carry .45s and wouldn’t be afraid of snakes.
  
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- 13th Imam
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:46am
  DEMOCRAT “Crisis of the Day?
  
  No Gravitas
  
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- Fubared
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 11:37am
  Well, I have put out maps on the border, directing all the frijoles to coastal NC, and to follow the bong smoke to the hovel of A User.
  
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- dc5
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 3:34pm
  They are already flooding America, specially Florida. So what! They should be welcome with their money and their desire to be productive. We should send them each an invitation with a green card. We can only benefit from their immigration here.
  
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13th Imam
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:29am
Hugo is such a “The Jerk”

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- Fubared
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:23pm
  Eh, Hugo is a pompous ass, but Jihad Jerk is a special nazi.
  
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Cavallo
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:26am
Socialists always go after the Jews sooner or later. Maybe the American Jews should pay attention. They probably won’t until it is too late. Remember that the neo-Nazis AND CPUSA support OWS, both to some extent because of their Jew-Hatred.

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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:25am
How long until the Jewish residents of Venezuela wind up playing the role of ‘scapegoats’?

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Gonzo
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:13am
So Venezuela’s Jews oppose socialism? Wanna trade?

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- Walkabout
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:46am
  We should also trade all the Hugo Chavez opposition folks for our liberals on a 1 for 1 basis.
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:00am
  Deal!
  
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- justangry
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:10am
  LOL Good one, Gonzo
  
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Dagnabbit5
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:12am
This is news? Doesn’t Venezuela spy on everyone in their country?

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RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:11am
Kristallnacht will soon be in full swing in Venezuelan. JIHAD_JERK, and MORSIENGINEER69 will probably drown in their own gleeful drool.

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- momrules
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:30am
  Yep……..
  
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- tzion
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:45am
  Don’t forget waspanglosaxon. He probably thinks the entire country should be wiped out.
  
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- Fubared
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 2:11pm
  I hate nazis.
  
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- tzion
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 4:16pm
  Fubared
  I hate nazis and neo nazis.
  
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DougHuffman
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:06am
Well trained by our US Lord of Flies keeping control of his civilian populace. Godly people are armed with wits, guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitterr Clingers, damn tyrants of all colors and stripes.

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SamIamTwo
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:05am
Evil….

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- momrules
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:50am
  Yes it is evil and predicted long ago. AnitSemitism is escalating worldwide.
  
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