International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 18 Aug 2010

Following an increase in anti-Semitic attacks, Chilean police protection has been provided for the president of Chile’s Jewish community, Gabriel Zaliasnik. "I am 43 years old, and I don’t recall something like this," he said. "We’ve had eight different anti-Semitic events in different parts of the country."

According to the American Jewish Committee, schools, synagogues and cemeteries in Santiago, Concepcion and Temuco have been vandalized and desecrated in recent weeks. "The systematic campaign of vandalism of Jewish institutions throughout Chile, as well as personal threats against the community’s leaders, is of paramount concern to us," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "We trust President [Sebastian] Pinera’s government will take the necessary actions to strengthen security for the Jewish community, and apprehend those responsible for the anti-Semitic attacks."

Police suspect the attacks were carried out by neo-Nazi elements, but over 200,000 Palestinian immigrants and their descendants also live in Chile.

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