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Jewish groups go after Venezuelan President

Days after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called his political rival Henrique Capriles a ‘low-life pig’, two Jewish groups have called on him to stop what they say are anti-Semitic attacks by his government's media.

22 February 2012 - Last updated 10:42AM
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Photo: Henrique Capriles - the opposition candidate for the 2012 Venezuelan presidential election.

A Venezuelan state media article entitled ‘The Enemy is Zionism’ details Capriles’ Jewish heritage and accuses him of covertly representing Israeli ideology.

A director for the Anti-Defamation League said Chavez and his government had previously used anti-Semitic rhetoric as a divisive political tool to scapegoat Jews. Additionally, a spokesman for the Simon Wiesenthal Center urged Chavez to put an end to a campaign that could become more threatening as the elections date approaches.
 
Capriles has so far sought to rise above the insults, saying he will not be drawn into a mud-slinging contest with the president. 
 
Source: JN1
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Venezuela Henrique Capriles Hugo Chavez