Arab Propagandist, Ousted by Argentina, Now in Venezuela

Hussein Triki, an Arab propagandist ousted by the Argentine government in 1964 because of his inflammatory anti-Semitic actions, is now in operation in Venezuela, according to the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith. Triki, as head of the Arab League office in Buenos Aires in the early 1960s, worked closely with Tacuara, a rightwing, anti-Semitic group, and other neo-Nazi elements in Argentina.

Gerald M. Quiat, vice-chairman of ADL’s Latin American affairs committee, said that Triki is using the same tactics in Venezuela as he did in Argentina and has the same goals–to promote the Arab cause through hatred of Jews and Israel.

Triki launched his propaganda campaign in Venezuela in January with a lecture on “International Zionism” at the School of Journalism of the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas. He also began distributing his book, “Zionism Unmasked,” which has a foreword by Dr. Domingo Alberto Rangel, a Venezuelan economist who is a fierce opponent of the present government.

INSIDIOUS ATTACK ON JEWS

Although he denies being anti-Jewish, Triki says in his lectures that he “cannot speak of Zionism without speaking of Judaism.” He attacks what he describes as the Jews’ efforts to dominate the world and cites the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” as proof. Advocating that Israelis should be returned to the lands from which they came, he declares that “we cannot make peace with those who have robbed our homes.”

Just as he did in Argentina, Triki tells Venezuelan audiences that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to the countries in which they live. He takes credit for Tacuara’s propaganda tactic to gain public support by attacking Jews as “Zionists,” and therefore subversive, Quiat reported.

According to the ADL official, Triki’s Nazi leanings date back to World War II when he belonged to the “Neo-Destour,” an organization in Tunisia, which operated with the consent of German authorities during the Nazi occupation. He also did propaganda work against the Allies in collaboration with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, who was in charge of Nazi broadcasts to the Middle East, and with pro-Nazi Arab emigres in Germany.

Quiat said that Triki poses a threat to the 15,000 Jews in Venezuela. “In view of his record as an anti-Semitic agitator,” the ADL official said, “we hope that the government of Venezuela will take appropriate measures to prevent his stimulating internal discord.”