MK Effie Eitam (NU/NRP) called for the government to bring Venezuelan Jews to Israel on Sunday, shortly after returning from a private visit to the Jewish community of Venezuela.  Eitam said that while Venezuelans are rarely anti-Semitic, the community is highly concerned over President Hugo Chavez, who is anti-Israel and pro-Iran and who recently issued a set of reforms securing his power for the foreseeable future.

Venezuela’s approximately 25,000 Jews are afraid that Chavez is setting himself up as a dictator, Eitam said, and are afraid of a possible backlash if Israel were to attack Iran.  Many of the Jews are considering emigration, he said, but many hesitate to make aliyah (immigrate) to Israel because they do not speak Hebrew and because the distance from Venezuela would make it impossible for them to continue running their businesses.  He called on Israel to bring Venezuelan Jews to Israel as a group, allowing them to continue living together, and explained that such a move would do much to encourage Venezuelan aliyah.