Government posts police outside largest synagogue in Venezuela’s capital
Jewish community calls for help after aggressive anti-Israel protest
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CARACAS, Venezuela — Police have been posted outside a synagogue in Venezuela’s capital to step up security after an anti-Israel protest during which Jewish community leaders say demonstrators hurled fireworks and shouted anti-Semitic slogans.
David Bittan is the president of the Venezuelan Confederation of Israelite Associations. He says more than 10 national police officers were sent to provide security at the largest synagogue in Caracas on Friday.
His organization has said about 50 people demonstrated outside the Tiféret Israel synagogue on Thursday to protest Israel’s airstrikes in the Gaza Strip before a ceasefire this week.
The Jewish confederation called for Venezuela’s government to guarantee security at places of worship after the demonstration.
This is not the first time that the synagogue has seen trouble. In January of 2009, a group of armed vandals broke into Tiféret Israel and painted anti-Israel graffiti throughout the building. The perpetrators also desecrated Torah scrolls and other religious objects.
The Times of Israel Community.