Poster of Venezuelanalysis' interview with Palestinian-Venezuelan activist Hindu Anderi. Photo: Venezuelanalysis.
Venezuela’s National Assembly is nearing the approval of its Law Against Fascism, Neo-Fascism, and Similar Expressions, commonly referred to as the “Antifascist Law.” The bill, which will classify fascism as a crime, seeks to preserve peace by banning the dissemination of content that promotes or glorifies fascism and similar ideologies. It will also require media outlets to promote “peaceful coexistence, diversity, tolerance, and respect” in their messaging.
In this interview, Venezuelanalysis talks to long-time activist Hindu Anderi from the Platform for Solidarity with the Palestinian Cause, which is actively lobbying for the new legislation to ban Zionist expressions and Zionist associations in Venezuela. Anderi presents a compelling argument for including Zionism in the law.
Since April 2024, the National Assembly has been working on the Antifascist Law. Could you give us a brief overview of the bill?
The new law is timely, not only because of the national context – where the fascist threat is very tangible – but also because we have seen a global surge of fascism, particularly in Europe and in the US. However, we have also seen clear manifestations of fascism in other parts of Latin America, especially in Argentina and El Salvador.
In Venezuela, fascism is not a new phenomenon. During the Fourth Republic, security forces operated with fascist methods and included among their ranks both overt fascists as well as known Zionists. Later, during Chávez’s presidency, there were ample expressions of fascism on the part of the opposition, especially rhetorical, but we also witnessed numerous acts of fascist violence.
The guarimbas [extreme-right street protests] were a blatant expression of fascism, and in 2017 we witnessed the tragic case of Orlando Figuera, a young Venezuelan man set on fire by a fascist mob simply because he was poor, Black, and identified as Chavista.
More recently, we’ve seen the extreme right destroy and burn spaces associated with Chavismo and several Chavista grassroots leaders have been assassinated in the post-July 28 violence unleashed by the María Corina Machado-led opposition.
The bill, which first reached the National Assembly floor in April, is currently being debated by the pueblo in a process known as parlamentarismo de calle [street parliamentarism]. It will return to the National Assembly for the final debate soon.
The document, which aims to promote democratic values, will classify fascism as a crime.
The Platform for Solidarity with the Palestinian Cause has been lobbying to include Zionism in the law. Can you tell us more about this grassroots initiative?
Indeed, we’ve been advocating for Zionism to be included in the law alongside fascism, because the two are closely linked.
We have been heard by some members of the National Assembly and received positive feedback. However, the text is still under debate, so we continue to lobby for Zionism to be included in the final version.
I think this is the time. We cannot allow expressions of fascism in our country, just as we cannot allow expressions of Zionism.
Zionism is fascism’s twin, a racist movement based on supremacy and expansion. Zionism is a colonialist project that promotes apartheid, slavery, and death. Zionism is the ideology behind the genocide currently underway in Gaza. Zionism, like fascism, is exterminist.
In your view, why should Zionism be included in this particular law?
It’s important to include Zionism in this law because it is not less harmful than fascism and it operates in a similar manner.
Fascism is easily identifiable, particularly because of 20th-century Nazi-fascism. Hitler adopted the ideology and killed millions of people in World War II in concentration camps – Jews, Romani people, communists, intellectuals, differently-abled people, and more. Fortunately, everyone knows the story.
Zionism is just as dangerous and is older than fascism. However, unlike fascism, Zionism has evolved and become more sophisticated. Today, Zionism is not only committing genocide in plain sight but has also shown a relentless willingness to carry out eternal war.
In Palestine, Zionism is attempting to wipe out an entire people. It doesn’t put children in gas chambers, but it dismembers them.
While fascism is real, and we have seen the violence it unleashes in our homeland, Zionism is even more dangerous because it is the ideology driving an ongoing genocide. That is why it is so important to include Zionism in the law.
When it comes to Venezuela, how does Zionism manifest itself?
We should never forget that Zionist associations here and abroad conspire against our democratically elected government. We saw rabbi Pynchas Brener, a Zionist agent, take the stage during the 2002 coup against Hugo Chávez. Later we saw the [opposition-led] Chacao township send police forces to train in Israel. I don’t know if this specific situation has been neutralized, it probably has, but I do know that there are Venezuelan mercenaries alongside the occupying IDF in Palestine. I think there could be a few links there.
Finally, while María Corina Machado is the most visible leader of a fascist movement here, she also has strong ties with international Zionism. She has openly supported the genocide in Gaza and even requested military intervention in Venezuela from Benjamin Netanyahu [2018]. Moreover, Machado has promised to reopen Venezuela’s embassy in Israel, this time in Jerusalem, if she comes to power.
Let’s not forget that Hugo Chávez severed all diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 when the Venezuelan embassy in Tel Aviv closed its doors.
If the new law were to include Zionism, would it be a step forward in the global struggle against Israel’s expansionist and exterminist project?
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that declared that “Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination” [1975]. However, laws against Zionism are rare for one simple reason: Zionism is closely linked to capitalism and imperialism, and it uses threats, coercion, and blockades to achieve its goals.
Here in Venezuela, we are taking an important step by attempting to include Zionism in our soon-to-be-approved Antifascist Law. If it is included, the law will be a significant achievement of the Bolivarian Revolution and should be recognized globally by progressive forces and international bodies.
If our popular initiative succeeds, the new law will contribute to the battle against Zionism, which is a battle for the preservation of Palestinian life and culture, and ultimately for the preservation of humanity.
In another context, you mentioned that there is no possible reconciliation between Bolivarianism and socialism on the one hand and Zionism and fascism on the other. Could you elaborate on this?
Zionism, like fascism, is a political movement and ideology that threatens life itself. It’s evident that when Zionism is given free rein in a country, that country cannot be free, sovereign, and well-nourished. In Palestine, children are literally dying of malnutrition because of US-backed Zionism, while in Venezuela, children have also suffered hunger due to the impact of the US blockade, which hijacked our economy.
Now, it’s important to highlight that the sanctions regime imposed on Venezuela was requested by operators such as the fascist and Zionist María Corina Machado.
Zionism, like fascism, contrasts sharply with the principles of any life-loving society. It steals land, tortures, destroys, and is driven by a supremacist ideology that knows no limits.
For these reasons, fascism and Zionism are utterly opposed to the Bolivarian doctrine and the socialist project.
We are firmly against imperialism, fascism, and Zionism because, as Bolivarians and socialists, we are committed to life and dignity. That is why it is crucial to include Zionism in the law currently under discussion. It is also necessary to launch an informative campaign about the dangers of Zionism and how it manipulates a portion of the world population as we speak.
As we, the people of Venezuela, struggle for sovereignty and emancipation, taking a firm stand against fascism and Zionism is essential.
(Venezuelanalysis) by Cira Pascual Marquina
