Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is claiming that “Zionists” are behind the civil unrest in Venezuela following the disputed July 28 elections, which he almost certainly lost. In a Saturday address, Maduro alleged that the “extremist right” which is claiming victory in the election was “financed” and “supported by international Zionism.”

“All the communication power of Zionism, who controls all social networks, the satellites, and all the power behind this coup d’état,” Maduro said.

US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt condemned Maduro’s allegations as “absurd” and antisemitic, stating, “The Venezuelan people have gone to the streets to peacefully call for their votes to be counted… We reject all forms of antisemitism, and the use of these types of age-old tropes fans the flames of Jew hatred in Latin America and throughout the world.”

Protesters have taken to the streets to dispute Maduro’s claims of winning a third term, with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado calling for police and security forces to stand by the protesters, not oppress them. Meanwhile, Attorney-General Tarek Saab has opened a criminal investigation into opposition candidates Edmundo Gonzalez and Corina Machado for allegedly falsely claiming to have won the election and inciting disobedience.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)