URUGUAY 2001-2

 

Although antisemitism in Uruguay remained on the same level as in 2000, there were some troubling antisemitic manifestations linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Nevertheless, the Uruguayan public remained relatively indifferent to the Middle East situation.

 

THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

The Jewish community of Uruguay is estimated at about 25,000 out of a general population of 3.2 million. Conversos were among the earliest settlers of the region; however, today most Uruguayan Jews are descendants of twentieth century immigrants of both Sephardi and Ashkenazi origin. The majority of Jews live in the capital Montevideo, with a smaller community in the city of Paysandú. Jewish families are scattered throughout other parts of the country but not in organized communities.

The Comité Central Israelita del Uruguay (CCIU), embracing some 60 communities and organizations, functions as a national Jewish representative body. There are a number of well-attended Jewish day schools.

Uruguayan Jews, like all Uruguayans, have been hard hit by the economic collapse in Argentina, and there has been a dramatic increase in the number of those considering aliya or relocation to other countries.

 

ANTISEMITIC ACTIVITIES

Although antisemitism remained on the same level as in 2000, there were some troubling manifestations, previously unknown in Uruguay, linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These included anti-Jewish slogans during anti-Israel demonstrations outside the Israeli embassy in Montevideo and antisemitic content in pamphlets concerning the conflict. Nevertheless, there appear to be no radical Islamist groups active in Uruguay.

No major violent antisemitic acts were reported. There were two minor acts of vandalism in Montevideo: a stone thrown in December at the residence of a Jewish woman, and a swastika daubed on the car of Jewish individual in March, as well as seven phone threats (including one to the victim of the stone-throwing incident in December). In addition, there were reports of anti-Jewish graffiti in several suburbs of Montevideo. Offensive e-mail messages were received by several Jewish individuals in April, and staff at several Jewish institutions reported receiving virus-infected e-mail decorated with an eagle and swastikas.

            The Uruguayan public appears to be relatively indifferent to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A survey conducted in the leading newspaper El Observador (18 Nov.) asked with whom readers identified more, Ariel Sharon or Yasir Arafat. Nineteen percent stated Sharon and 16 percent, Arafat; the rest had no opinion. When asked with whom they sympathized more, Israelis or Palestinians, 14 answered Israelis and 13 percent Palestinians. In response to a question concerning George Bush and Usama bin Ladin, 44 percent said they identified more with Bush and 10 percent with bin Ladin.

Asked whether the international community should get involved in finding a solution to the Middle East problem, in another leading newspaper El Pais (29 March), 17.7 percent answered affirmatively and 82 percent, in the negative.

Both newspapers (El Pais, 6 Aug., and El Observador, 29 Oct.) also polled readers on racism in Uruguay. Sixty-five percent in the El Pais survey claimed there was racism in the country and 35 percent responded in the negative. The figures in El Observador were: 61 percent, very little racism; 21 percent, a great deal; 14 percent, a fair amount; and 4 percent had no opinion.

 

ATTITUDES TOWARD THE HOLOCAUST

El Escolar, the children’s edition of El País, published two misleading articles on 29 August 2001. One, on the chronology of World War II, contained incorrect facts, and the second, on the origins of the swastika, failed to mention the meaning of this symbol for Nazism. The CCIU sent a letter of protest to El País.

 

responses to racism and antisemitism

The document presented by the Uruguay government at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in September 2001 was drawn up by a joint governmental-public committee that included representatives of the Comité Central Israelita del Uruguay.