The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading civil and human rights organisation fighting hatred in all its forms, has expressed its shock and outrage at the cover of Verdades de Miguel, a weekly magazine in Venezuela, that shows an image of religious Jew, with a Star of David in the form of U.S dollars in the background, and the headline, The Rabbis of CADIVI,” referring to the Venezuelan government body which deals with legal currency exchange in Venezuela. The journal also contains a column penned by the publisher which references an alleged report claiming that some companies, owned by “citizens of Israelite origin” are illegally using currency exchange. Earlier this year, Venezuela’s U.N Ambassador compared Israel to Nazi Germany, asking whether it was planning to “wage a final solution” against the Palestinians.
Dr. Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“This magazine cover trades off and resuscitates the centuries old anti-Semitic stereotypes about greedy Jews and their immoral conduct regarding money. It is deeply disturbing that such dangerous canards have once again made it into the mainstream of Venezuelan society and media in such a graphic fashion. History has taught us that in times of economic trouble, Jews have often been scapegoated as evildoers exploiting such crises and woes for their own gain. It is hard to imagine how besieged and insecure the Venezuelan Jewish community must feel at this time, and we hope that the international community conveys its disdain and shock at such an ugly manifestation of the longest hatred.”
The Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677.