Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez met with leaders from the World Jewish Congress last week, pledging to work together against anti-Semitism and to open channels of communication despite strong differences on Mideast politics.
Both Chávez and the WJC leaders called the meeting a success.
“There may be some differences of opinion on some issues — on major issues such as Iran and also the Middle East,” Michael Schneider, the organization’s secretary-general, said after the meeting. “But when it comes to anti-Semitism, I think we’re on the same page.”
“We mentioned our concerns about anti-Semitism and asked him what his position was,” Schneider said. “And he said he was certainly not an anti-Semite.”
The socialist president said it was a “very important meeting,” but did not elaborate.
Chávez has repeatedly vilified Israel while expressing sympathy for the Palestinians. During the 2006 Israeli bombing of Lebanon, Chávez withdrew his top envoy from Israel and threatened to cut off diplomatic relations, calling the attacks “a new Holocaust.”
But his government has insisted the criticisms of Israel aren’t meant to demonize Jewish people, saying relations with Venezuela’s Jewish community are “open and friendly.”
A U.S. State Department report on anti-Semitism in March expressed concern about Chavez’s remarks demonizing Israel.
Schneider said delegates asked Chávez to install a “full-status” ambassador in Israel to replace the current lower-level envoy — a request he said Chávez is considering.
There are an estimated 12,000 to 13,000 people in Venezuela’s Jewish community, down from about 16,000 a decade ago.
Chávez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are united in their antagonism toward the U.S. and Israel, and have teamed up to start joint ventures in Venezuela to produce cars, tractors and bicycles. — ap