Following those most recent attacks in 2009, I visited the Jewish community of Caracas in a gesture of solidarity and to gain information on what indeed took place in this attack on the Jewish community. I've maintained contact with members of the community over the past year, and on their behalf, I've been asked to express gratitude to the Canadian government, to Parliament, for the motions that have been tabled, for the various petitions that have been presented on behalf of the beleaguered Jewish community of Venezuela, and for the courageous diplomatic gesture that Canada has made by representing Israel's consular interests since the departure of Israel's ambassador since he was thrown out in January of 2009.
The Government of Venezuela is sensitive to how it's perceived in the community of nations, and we've been reassured that the international voice of condemnation is the one ray of hope for the future of political and religious freedom in Venezuela. And yet, that being said, the Jewish community lives in fear. I ask you to listen to some of the words of the students, some of the young Jewish people who are growing up in Chávez's Venezuela.
Orly Margulis, who is now graduating from grade 8, wrote--and I haven't changed one word from her e-mail to me--the following:
I feel that the anti-Semitism is a huge problem in Venezuela. I'm afraid to go out because of the insecurity and all the trouble that the Venezuelan government did. The president hates the Jewish people, and recently he cursed Israel and blamed us for the dead people in Gaza which makes me very angry. I'm sad that this country--a country that welcomed the Jews after the World War II--is now one of the most dangerous places in the world, and one that is a very anti-Semitic country.
She's in grade 8.
Eduardo Herdan, grade 11, said this:
Since the war in Gaza broke out a year and a half ago, the president of Venezuela has been progressively attacking the Jewish community. Whether it is verbally, by insulting us on national television, or by expelling the Israeli ambassador, we have felt his anti-Semitism. The president's remarks have been transmitted to the Venezuelan population, which has been increasingly turning more hostile towards the Jewish community.
Mr. Chairman, the children are afraid. They shudder when they see images or hear recordings of their president; they're fearful when they hear him speak about Israel.
Listen to his language from this past week, in response to the flotilla incident off the coast of Gaza. I'm not asking you to look at his political approach, but listen to his language.
As part of a diatribe that accused Israel of financing his opposition, accused the Mossad of sending assassination teams to target Chávez in Venezuela, and claimed that Israeli forces are all over the Caribbean, Chávez also said, “Maldito seas, Estado de Israel. Maldito seas, terrorista y asesino.” That's saying: curse you, state of Israel; curse you, you terrorist and murderer.
Do you know why these words cause the Jewish citizens of Venezuela to fear for their safety, for the institutions they've worked so hard to build, and for their children's safety? It's not only because of their affinity for and their love for the state of Israel. It's because Chávez's words are the very same words that the vandals wrote on the walls of their beloved synagogue in that early morning raid, as evidenced in some of the photographs that are being circulated.
They wrote on January 2009, Sabbath morning, on the walls of the synagogue, “Israel malditos. No los queremos. Asesinos.” That's saying: cursed Israel; we don't want murderers.
That's while the very same country's emperor curses Israel and calls them murderers in his political speeches.
On the one hand, the government officially distances itself from the acts of vandalism and terrorism. On the other hand, Chávez echoes these acts in his speeches.
Ernesto Spiro, a teacher in the school, a leader in the Caracas Jewish community, shared the following with me. He said he felt fear for his close ones and uncertainty about his future. As the son of Holocaust survivors, the hatred of the Venezuelan government toward Jews is prevented from becoming a more aggressive manifestation toward them “only because of the fear of being recognized by the world for what we, Venezuelan Jews, know”.
He says: Sincerely speaking, if I would have an economical background to support my family, long ago, we would have immigrated to another country....My mother, who is in love with Venezuela, is sadly but constantly speaking to us, about the feeling she has, the time to leave the country, is nearing.
He writes that he's been a teacher since 1995: I have watched hundreds of my pupils leave Venezuela for good. I feel like the captain of a sinking ship, who is the last to abandon it.
Mr. Chairman, the children of Venezuela are afraid. They're losing sleep at night. Families are making preparations to leave, to join the many who have already left.
Canada enjoys diplomatic and economic ties with Venezuela. It's time to leverage this relationship. It's time to take a principled stance.
In response to the 2009 attacks on the Jewish communal institutions, arrests were made and a facade of justice was presented to the world, yet there have been no trials. The Jewish community and the world have been left in the dark as to the sentence of, or the fate of, those who were allegedly apprehended for these crimes.
There's an unspoken consensus in the Jewish community of Venezuela that the Chávez government is the only body in the country that possesses the means, the coordination, and the distorted political desire to carry out such attacks. The international community, led by Canada, must demand an impartial, independent, and internationally sanctioned investigation of the attacks of January and February 2009.
As well, the members of the Jewish community know that anti-Semitism is the official policy of the Chávez government. Whether it's because of his aspirations to be admired by Ahmadinejad or Iran--or for other political or personal reasons, I won't guess as to what--Chávez has created an environment of terror and fear for the Venezuelan Jewish community.
We shouldn't be oblivious to the fact that the same words that were written in the context of a threatening and vandalistic raid are used by Chávez in his presidential speeches. The synagogue vandals are either agents of the government or are following the government's not-too-subtle leadership. Either possibility should be unacceptable to Canada and unacceptable to the international community.
Maurisio Rubenstein, a tenth grader, said—this was translated from Spanish by one of her classmates—the following: The Venezuelan government shows anti-Semitism in many different ways, but everything falls into place with the certainty of the lack of trust we have with our government. Our own president both curses and verbally attacks Israel....Whenever synagogues and religious buildings are attacked, everybody stays silent....I feel as if we are repeating the past. I feel as if the Holocaust was about to happen once again. I believe we shouldn't let it repeat ever again.
Mr. Chairman, the rhythms of history have provided us with tragic lessons as to how minority communities are marginalized, terrorized, and finally dehumanized.
Firstly, their beliefs are marginalized. The Jews of Venezuela today have reason to fear expressing their personal beliefs and their support for Israel.
Secondly, their religious gathering places are terrorized. This has certainly been the case with the Caracas Jewish community, which has no guarantee against further government raids or government-sponsored attacks.
Finally, the community has existential fears concerning the next step in the escalation of words and actions against the Jewish community.
If we wait too long, one of two eventualities will occur. Either every Jew will flee the country, as has been happening, or further tragedy will befall the community. Either possibility should be unacceptable to those concerned about the situation of human rights in Venezuela.
I thank you for your time and for the attention that you have given to this pressing matter.
