Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Baseless Charges Resurface in the Washington Post
By News Report
Feb 5, 2008, 19:46

Once again, the Washington Post has published a column that serves only one purpose: to further disorient the reader on current events in Venezuela.

In "Chávez's Anti-Semitism," Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League writes that President Hugo Chavez is anti-Semitic and responsible for a "rising wave of anti-Semitism in Venezuela."  As the record will attest, this is simply not true.

The Post column comes just weeks after a Miami Herald opinion piece made similarly inaccurate charges, going so far as to suggest that the Venezuelan government is considering kicking Jews out the country.  This is not the case -- the publication they trace this idea to is a magazine published by the Ministry of Culture featuring independent academic essays on the conflict in the Middle East, which has nothing to do with government policy or the position of public officials.

Unfortunately, the Washington Post column is just as distorted.  While it certainly talks the talk, when put through a thorough fact check, it hardly walks the walk.

To begin with, President Chavez has consistently advocated for the rights of marginalized and oppressed peoples, including  Jewish communities. Chavez opposes all forms of racial and religious discrimination, and has made constitutional law regarding human rights in Venezuela among the strongest in the world.

Secondly, the "raid" mentioned in the column was not an act of discrimination, but one of many efforts to ensure peace and tranquility during the December referendum.  Just days before, police responded to a tip leading them to seize weapons believed to have been part of a plot to violently disrupt the electoral process.

Thirdly, Chavez's criticism of Israeli policy does not equate to anti-Semitism, as the column suggests. Nor are Venezuela's diplomatic relations with Iran and Syria indicative of "a wave of anti-Semitism." Presidents in the United States  have frequently aligned with other world leaders whose values they may not share, but never have they been charged with guilt by mere association.

The Washington Post column lacks facts, and instead relies on falsehoods and generalizations.. With such serious allegations at stake, actual proof should be demanded to back them up.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Contact Autumn Brewington, op-ed editor since January; Fred Hiatt, editorial page editor; and Jackson Diehl, deputy editorial page editor to demand the use of proof in opinion pieces and articles. 
You can also write a letter to the editor in response to this column at letters@washpost.com  Remember your letter should be no more than 150 words.  Include your name, phone, email and address.