Political organizations and popular movements held an event this Friday afternoon (24) in Bolívar Square, in Caracas, against the interference of the United States and the presence of Israeli officials in the country after the double earthquake that hit the center-north of the country on June 24. The mobilization took place during the national holiday that celebrates the birth of Simón Bolívar, the nation’s liberator and first president.
Protesters criticize the rapprochement between the interim government of Delcy Rodríguez and the State of Israel, which sent a technical mission of 30 experts to work on rebuilding the country after the double earthquake that occurred at the end of June. Venezuela had severed diplomatic relations with Israel since 2009, when then-president Hugo Chávez cut ties in solidarity with the Palestinian people following military attacks in the Gaza Strip.
Rafael Uzcátegui, leader of the Patria Para Todos Party (PPT), stated that the act is a demonstration that there is resistance from relevant political sectors in the country to the imperialist occupation and “capitulation”.
“Today, July 24th, the day of the birth of the liberator Simón Bolívar, a block from his house, we are here celebrating his birth and ratifying what he advocated when he pointed out that ‘the United States was destined by providence to be filled with misery and hunger in the name of freedom’. Today we are pointing out: Venezuela yes, Trump no. Venezuela yes, Yankees no. We refuse to capitulate.”
In turn, Hindu Anderi, coordinator of the International Platform for Solidarity with the Palestinian Cause, classified the resumption of these contacts as a moment of setback. For the activist, the Israeli presence and American influence are part of an occupation plan that attempts to divide the population and steal natural resources.
“We came to the battle in favor of the people of Palestine. We have a long struggle and a wonderful history since before Chávez, but with Chávez, a very important solidarity was realized, a solidarity in practice with a Palestinian embassy in Venezuela, with educational, cultural, economic and sporting agreements, with the State of Palestine recognized by Venezuela. For us, it is a moment of setback in this sense, because we understand that the people of Venezuela, as of January 3, are being occupied, they try also humiliate us and, above all, divide and disperse us”, points out the activist, who draws parallels to explain the imperialist occupation project.
“Why don’t we understand that in Venezuela there is also a project of occupation, of indiscriminate theft of our resources? How is it possible that we see more and believe more in the ‘gringos’ than in ourselves? That we don’t see the plan that Rubio and Trump are developing against our government, our process and our independence”, he argues.
Chavismo exponents present
Questioned by Brazil in factthe deputy of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (Psuv) and former minister of Penitentiary Services, Íris Varela, rejected that there had been any change in the Venezuelan government’s position in relation to the Palestinian cause.
“Not at all. We always support the Palestinian cause. This is the cause of the people. We are an anti-imperialist people, we are a revolutionary people and we will always be on the side of just causes”, said the parliamentarian.
“This is an act of resistance by the Venezuelan people to the violation of sovereignty and the violation of our freedom by the US government, with the approval and complicity of the government in charge”, commented the also Psuv activist.
Intervention disguised as humanitarian aid
The Israeli delegation was contacted by the interim government to carry out technical assessments on around a thousand buildings that suffered structural damage. The group of Israeli engineers developed a national recovery plan for affected areas, such as the state of La Guaira.
However, Zuleika Matamoros, from the popular May Day movement, denounced what she called “Israel’s genocidal government”, stating that humanitarian aid is a false speech to cover up the occupation. For her, self-organization and critical and permanent mobilization are fundamental to the defense of national sovereignty at this crucial moment.
“This is the first anti-imperialist action after the bombing of January 3 and the earthquake that accelerated the occupation by and accelerated some agreements with the genocidal government of Israel, which, murdering children in Palestine, comes here with the false speech that it will protect ours. I believe that this first meeting gives us a thermometer that there is still an important sector that has the right to exist”, said the Caracas resident.
“Self-organization is the most powerful weapon we have and what calls us today is the defense of sovereignty, anti-imperialism that is consistent”, he added.
The Israeli technical mission ended its face-to-face activities on the ground after three weeks of work, but, according to government sources, it should continue “advising” the reconstruction work. The double earthquake on June 24 has so far left 5,398 people dead and more than 23,000 homeless.
“Let the world know that the Venezuelan people in the catacombs are mobilized, that we are a people in resistance, that we know very well what our authorities are doing here, that nothing will divide us and that we are anti-imperialist. Here we are in resistance. And we all want, including some in the opposition, for the Yankees to go”, added Varela.
Another Chavista exponent present at the event was journalist and television presenter Mario Silva, who has harshly criticized Delcy Rodríguez’s management. To the Brazil in facthe spoke of the current government’s “complicity” with the imperialist occupation project.
“This is an act of resistance by the Venezuelan people to the violation of sovereignty and the violation of our freedom by the US government, with the approval and complicity of the government in charge”, commented the also Psuv activist.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
