Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has offered the country's island La Orchida as a temporary base for Russian strategic bombers. “There is such a proposal on the part of the Venezuelan president,” said the chief of the long-range aviation staff Anatoly Zhikharev. “Chavez offered us a whole island with an airfield that we can use for the temporary basing of strategic bombers.” Zhikharev added that, providing there is the relevant political will, the island could be...

Venezuela on Monday congratulated Iran on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution that toppled the US-backed shah, saying Caracas shares Tehran's "ideals of independence and sovereignty." "We joyfully celebrate the memorable, popular uprising against the Shah in February 1979, a historic date... in fanning the revolutionary hopes of all the people of the world struggling for emancipation," a foreign ministry statement said. President Hugo Chavez "feels...

CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 7 -- Jewish leaders said it had never before happened in Venezuela: a break-in with anti-Jewish intent at one of the city's most prominent synagogues. A dozen armed men overpowered guards, spray-painted office walls with anti-Semitic insults, desecrated historic Torah scrolls and made off with computers containing personal information on congregants. President Hugo Chávez condemned the Jan. 30 attack, which has shaken the country's political establishment. But...

CARACAS, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Seven Venezuelan police agents and four civilians have been arrested in connection with an attack on a synagogue that sparked international condemnation, investigators said on Sunday. President Hugo Chavez, whom Jewish groups accuse of encouraging anti-Semitism, referred to the arrests and said the attack was led by a police officer who had worked closely with the rabbi at the synagogue. "What a coincidence, the gang leader is a metropolitan police officer...

CARACAS, Venezuela -- As President Hugo Chavez intensifies his anti-Israel campaign, some Venezuelans have taken action, threatening Jews in the street and vandalizing the largest synagogue in Caracas _ where they stole a database of names and addresses. Now many in Venezuela's Jewish community fear the worst is yet to come. Chavez has personally taken care not to criticize Israelis or Jews while accusing Israel's government of genocide against the Palestinians. He vehemently denies inciting...

Armed men forced their way into a Caracas synagogue, defacing its administrative offices with anti-Semitic graffiti and vandalizing an interior room where the Torah is kept, officials said. Vandals smashed items in an interior room where the Torah is kept, officials said. About 15 men forced their way into the Mariperez Synagogue in Venezuela’s capital about 10 p.m. Friday, staying until about 3 a.m., police said. They tied up a security guard at the synagogue before vandalizing the...

The Iranian effort, which has been joined by Venezuela in a joint effort to establish a strong terror base in the region, is especially palpable in countries ruled by anti-American left wing regimes such as Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia. Nonetheless, Iran has also increased its presence in Mexico and Colombia, which are considered more U.S. friendly. The rate of the increase of Iranian personnel in Mexican and Colombian embassies were described by the New York sources as...

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 late Friday by about 15 people who left graffiti such as, "We don't want murderers," and "Jews, get out." The synagogue canceled Saturday's worship service. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro condemned the attack, while...

International Jewish groups expressed concern after an attack on a Caracas synagogue and blamed Hugo Chavez for creating an atmosphere of hate in Venezuela. Up to 15 people attacked the Tiferet Israel Sephardic synagogue late Friday night, throwing Torah scrolls on the floor and damaging some, according to reports. They also painted epithets such as "death to the Jews" on the synagogue's walls. The synagogue's guard had been held at gunpoint and was found on the floor of the...

Are we in the brink of a new era where Iran is at the root of all these acts? Alberto Jabiles,Venezuela's Bnai Brith President, asked today when talking about the attack to Tiferet Israel and the demonstration against this attack adding they where all angry and anguished by this event. On the other hand, he added, we've never seen so many non-governmental organizations showing their support as they did today including among the demonstrators the Simon Bolivar University, Monteavila...