Gang ransacks Venezuela synagogue

Anti-semitic and anti-Israeli slogans were painted on the walls of Caracas's oldest synagogue [AFP]

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By Agencies

A group of armed men has desecrated a Jewish synagogue in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, in what Jewish leaders have called the worst attack ever on their community.

At least 15 unidentified men overpowered two security guards and occupied the building for several hours, spraying graffiti on the walls that read: "We don't want murderers," and "Jews, get out."

Scriptures were damaged and the group called for all Jewish people to be expelled from the country.

Jewish leaders say tensions have risen since Venezuela cut off diplomatic relations with Israel in January over its war on Gaza, which left more than 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis dead.

"Never in the history of Venezuela's Jewish community have we been the target of such an aggression," Elias Farache, the president of Venezuela's Jewish Association, said.

"The climate is very tense. We feel threatened, intimidated, attacked," he said.

'Respect'

Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's foreign minister, condemned the synagogue attack and promised it would be investigated, while reiterating his government's opposition to what he called Israel's "criminal" government.

"We respect the Jewish people, but we ask respect for the people of Palestine and their right to life," Maduro said in a ceremony held to welcome home two Venezuelan diplomats expelled from Israel this week.

The Israeli government ordered Venezuela's ambassador in Tel Aviv and his two staff, along with the country's chief diplomat in the occupied West Bank, to leave after Caracas decided to cut off diplomatic relations on January 14.

Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's president, labelled Israeli leaders as "genocidal."

Leaders of Venezuela's estimated 15,000-member Jewish community warned that vocal denunciations of Israel by Chavez and state-run media may have encouraged Friday's attack.

"These declarations permeate society," Abraham Levy, president of the Venezuelan Confederation of Israelite Associations, said.