Jewish businessmen in Central and South America are special targets of left-wing guerrillas, according to Richard Stone, President Reagan’s former special envoy to Central America. He said they have become victims of kidnapping, extortion and anti-Zionist propaganda.
Addressing the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith’s National Commission last week the former Florida Democratic Senator said the number of Jewish businessmen who have been abducted is far out of proportion to non-Jewish businessmen who have suffered the same fate. He said the guerrillas responsible have close connections with the Palestine Liberation Organization.
The pressures on Jewish businessmen in Latin America have become “particularly intense” during the last five years, Stone indicated. The fear of retribution against themselves and fellow Jews deters the businessmen from reporting their victimization, Stone said. This, he added, makes it difficult to determine the actual extent of the problem.
As a result of their victimization at the hands of guerrilla forces, Jews make up a very large portion of those forced to flee from the politically volatile regions, Stone said.
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