Representatives of Venezuela’s Jewish community expressed “concern and displeasure” regarding Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to their country.

Ahmadinejad traveled to Caracas on June 23 as the guest of his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez. Under Chavez, Venezuelan Jews have seen repeated police raids on community institutions. The U.S. State Department has accused Chavez in the past of “fanning the flames of anti-Semitic hatred.” — jta