The Anti-Defamation League (ADL ) lastmonth voiced concern about blatant anti-Semitism in the Venezuelan presidential campaign directed against opposition candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski, who is running against incumbent Hugo Chávez.
An article published on the web site of the Venezuelan National Radio immediately after Capriles’ February 12 primary victory attempted to discredit the candidate’s credentials based on his Jewish ancestry.
The article, titled The Enemy is Zionism, also promoted the classic anti-Semitic stereotype of a global Jewish cabal reminiscent of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Comments and postings on other government affiliated and controlled web sites have picked up on the article’s anti-Semitic themes.
In response ADL National Director Abraham Foxman, issued a statement: "As we have witnessed in the past, blatant and persistent anti-Semitism is used by President Chávez and his government apparatus as a divisive political tool to scapegoat Jews.
"What we are seeing at the outset of Venezuela’s presidential elections is an attempt to cast the opposition candidate as a ‘traitorous Jew’ who is unworthy of the presidency and who, if elected, will subvert the interests of the Venezuelan people for the benefit of some mythic worldwide Zionist plot."