There is a strong feeling among the Jewish community that the leaders of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and its Latin American division (LAJC) should not leave empty-handed.
The meeting was scheduled to be held at 10.30 am (local time) in Caracas, Venezuela.
Both the Latin American Jewry as well as Israel are expecting that the meeting, which will be attended by WJC President, Ronald Lauder, LAJC President, Jack Terpins, WJC treasurer, Eduardo Elsztain, and the President of the Venezuelan Jewish community, Abraham Levi Benshimol, will have important results.
All eyes are on this meeting, since it is aimed at bridging the gaps between the Venezuelan President and the local Jewish community.
The Jewish leaders will raise their complaints over the intimidation and harassment aimed at the Venezuelan Jewry, and will also express their concern over the close relationship between Chavez and the Iranian regime, an avowed enemy of Israel.
In this sense, WJC Executive Director, Claudio Epelman, said there is "great expectation" over this meeting.
The meeting will also be attended by members of the Confederation of Israelite Associations of Venezuela (Confederación de Asociaciones Israelitas de Venezuela – CAIV), which has repeatedly reported that Chávez’s government has intimidated the local community in several occasions.
By the end of last year, the Venezuelan Hebraica club was raided by the local police, who conducted a search for weapons allegedly hidden in the premises.
Nothing was found in the search, and the CAIV expressed in a statement their outrage over this event.
Chávez granted the meeting at the request of Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, who met with Ronald Lauder a month ago, and was asked to intervene and arrange a meeting with the Venezuelan leader.
AJN