Israel may limit relations with Venezuela

Israel may decrease its political ties to Venezuela partially due to the strengthening relationship between Hugo Chavez and Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to an article in Haaretz. According to the piece in the Israeli newspaper, a “highly-placed” source said that the Olmert administration is considering not naming a new ambassador to Venezuela once his term ends next June.

In addition, the article cites worries by Venezuela’s Jewish community over government plans to “centralize education,” thus affecting private religious-based schools.

Tensions between Venezuela’s Jewish community and Chavez were exacerbated by supposedly anti-Semitic remarks made last year:

“In his speech, Chavez lamented that while the world had enough resources for all, ‘some minorities, the descendants of the same ones who crucified Christ, the descendants of the same ones who threw out (South American liberator Simon) Bolivar from here and also crucified him in a way in Santa Marta - a minority took possession of all the planet's gold, of the silver, the minerals, the waters, the good land, the oil, the riches, and they have concentrated the riches in a few hands.’”

During a diplomatic visit several months ago Argentine president Nestor Kirchner agreed to serve as a mediator between Venezuelan Jews and Chavez.

Sources- Haaretz, El Universal, Associated Press, Venezuela Newsletter, The Latin Americanist

Image- levinejudaica.com