US embassy cable - 04CARACAS3704

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 003704 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, KJUS, KIRF, VE 
SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN POLICE RAID HEBREW CULTURAL CENTER 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (d 
) 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (U)  Venezuelan police investigating the killing of 
prosecutor Danilo Anderson searched the Hebrew Club in 
Caracas November 29 for three hours.  The search, which began 
at 6:30 a.m. and disrupted the arrival of 1,500 students to 
the school on the premises, turned up no evidence or weapons. 
 Leaders of the Jewish community in Venezuela expressed 
outrage at the timing of the search, and questioned whether 
further actions could be expected.  GOV officials said they 
searched the Caracas Jewish community's principal cultural 
facility because they had reports of weapons on the grounds. 
Newspaper reports suggested that rumors of Israeli 
involvement in the Anderson assassination might be behind the 
search.  End Summary 
 
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Unsuccessful Search 
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2.  (U)  Members of Venezuela's Investigative Police (CICPC) 
carried out a search order issued by Control Judge Maikel 
Moreno for the installations of the Hebrew Club in Caracas 
November 29. The Hebrew Club contains a school, cultural 
center, and sports facilities. Judge Moreno is responsible 
for the investigation of the car bomb assassination of Danilo 
Anderson, Venezuela's most visible and controversial 
prosecutor, on November 18.  The officers arrived at 6:30 am 
and left at 9:30 am.  According to a statement released by 
the Confederation of Israeli Associations of Venezuela 
(CAIV), the official report the officers filled out after the 
search stated that no evidence or weapons were found. 
Minister of Interior and Justice Jesse Chacon told reporters 
he did not know the exact reason for the search, but that it 
could be related to reports of weapons being hidden at 
various installations around Caracas.  Police have searched 
various businesses and homes linked to the case. 
 
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Reactions 
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3.  (C)  David Slimak, President of the CAIV, told PolOff 
November 30 that the search had been conducted at the worst 
possible time, just as 1,500 students were arriving at the 
school housed within the Club.  He said he did not know if 
this was a mistake, or intentional. Slimak said members of 
the Jewish community were extremely upset to find the school 
closed and a police operation underway as they brought their 
children to school. He said the parents feared there was a 
omb threat or an attack had taken place. He claime that it 
was more upsetting to him that the searh implied that the 
Jewish community was somehow implicated in the Anderson 
attack, than if there hd been a bomb threat. Slimak observed 
that the oficers were polite, and behaved professionally 
troughout the search. 
 
4.  (U)  The head Rabbi ofthe Jewish community in Venezuela, 
Pinchas Brener, released a press statement in which he 
expresse his "consternation" and "horror" at the search, 
pointing out that itwas unheard of throughout theworld to 
search a school. He asked how anyone cold think that the 
Jewish community was involved i the assassination of 
Anderson, and defended theapolitical nature of the Jewish 
community, thoug individuals might be politically active. He 
endd the statement by saying, "We hope that this is nt the 
beginning of a greater action; if this is tday, we do not 
know what tomorrow will bring." 
 
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Israeli Angle? 
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5.  (U)  The daily newspaper El Nacional November 30 
suggested that the raid traced back to the comments of 
Venezuelan satirist Orlando Urdaneta in an interview on Miami 
television on November 23. According to the newspaper he 
suggested that an Israeli commando would be the best way to 
kill President Chavez. (Note: In fact, Urdaneta's comments 
were more elliptical, and in response to a question about 
dictators such as Fidel Castro.)  Tupamaro leader Jose Pinto 
 
then reportedly warned that Mossad agents were active in the 
group that killed Anderson. On November 24 the Israeli 
Embassy in Caracas released a statement categorically denying 
any Israeli role in the assassination, and warning that such 
statements could confuse people. 
 
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Comment 
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6.  (C)  Venezuelan police have conducted various raids since 
the death of Anderson.  We do not know if there was any 
genuine investigative reason for this or other searches. 
There may be some fear among Chavistas of Israeli involvement 
in Anderson's murder, which led them "logically" to the 
Hebrew Club.  Rumors quickly circulated, for example, linking 
the incident to President Hugo Chavez's visit to Iran, and 
the "possibility" that the Iranians warned the President of 
Mossad's alleged capabilities and links to the U.S.  The 
timing of the raid could also be a product of police 
incompetence and indifference to public convenience. Post 
will continue to monitor the situation, alert to any 
indications of anti-Semitism. 
 
 
Brownfield 
 
 
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      2004CARACA03704 - CONFIDENTIAL