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Venezuelan synagogue attacked as relations worsen

A member of the Jewish community looks at a vandalized tabernacle in a synagogue at the Israeli Association of Venezuela (AIV) headquarters in Caracas, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. The synagogue was vandalized by 15 unidentified armed people early in the morning, according to AIV's Vice President David Bittan. (AP Photo/Carlos Hernandez) (Carlos Hernandez - AP)

Venezuelan diplomats who were expelled by Israel's government, Jonathan Velasco, right, and Roland Betancourt attend a welcome ceremony at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Caracas, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. Israel's Foreign Ministry ordered Venezuela's envoys to leave this week, responding to Venezuela's expulsion of Israel's diplomats in protest over Israel's invasion of the Gaza strip. (AP Photo/Carlos Hernandez) (Carlos Hernandez - AP)

Janos Fenjves, Consul of Hungary, looks at graffiti written on the walls of the Israeli Association of Venezuela (AIV) headquarters in Caracas, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. The graffiti reads in Spanish "Get out. Death." The AIV synagogue and offices were vandalized by 15 unidentified armed people early in the morning, according to AIV's Vice President David Bittan. (AP Photo/Carlos Hernandez) (Carlos Hernandez - AP)

By RACHEL JONES

The Associated Press
Sunday, February 1, 2009; 3:03 AM

CARACAS, Venezuela -- An armed group vandalized Caracas' oldest synagogue, shattering religious objects and spray-painting walls in what Jewish leaders called the worst attack ever on their community in Venezuela.

Two security guards were overpowered by about 15 people who ransacked the synagogue's sanctuary and offices late Friday, leaving graffiti such as: "We don't want murderers," and "Jews, get out."

Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro condemned the 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 called to welcome home two Venezuelan diplomats expelled from Israel this week.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry ordered the envoys to leave after Venezuela expelled all Israeli diplomats on Jan. 6, to protest Israel's offensive in the Gaza strip. President Hugo Chavez labeled Israeli leaders as "genocidal."

Nearly 1,300 Palestinians died in the three weeks of fighting.

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