Israel Matzav

Venezuela expels Israel's ambassador

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's bosom buddy Thuggo Chavez expelled Israel's ambassador to his country on Tuesday night, allegedly in protest of Israel's action in Gaza.

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry announced the move in a statement, saying it "has decided to expel the Israeli ambassador and part of the Israeli Embassy's personnel."

"How far will this barbarism go?" Chavez asked on state television before the ambassador's expulsion was announced. "The president of Israel should be taken before an international court together with the president of the United States, if the world had any conscience."

Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said its U.N. mission is joining with other countries in demanding the Security Council "apply urgent and necessary measures to stop this invasion."

Israeli diplomats could not immediately be reached for comment. The embassy in Caracas was closed, and it was unclear how the Israeli government would respond.

Jewish community leader Abraham Levy, president of the Venezuelan Confederation of Israelite Associations, called the government's decision "taking the side of a terrorist group" by backing Gaza's Hamas leaders while ignoring Israel's perspective.

"I deeply lament that decision made by the government, which cuts off an enormous and long tradition of friendship between the people of Israel and the people of Venezuela," Levy told The Associated Press.

He said the decision leaves Venezuela's Jewish community — which numbers nearly 15,000 — "not only worried but also deeply battered" because it "attempts to demonize the state of Israel."

While many countries have protested Israel's offensive, none besides Venezuela so far have expelled the ambassador.

Venezuela has become Hezbullah's base in Latin America.

Three weeks ago, the Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that the Venezuelan airline Conviasa was flying a Tehran - Damascus - Caracas route and using the first leg as a weapons transport. Western intelligence agencies have confirmed the charges, which Chavez denies.

Israel has not yet indicated whether it will return the favor. But the foreign ministry has issued a statement in which it said

Israel will continue to protect itself from its enemies, amongst them Hamas and Iran, Israel Radio reported.

The Foreign Ministry added that every country must decide whether it is on the side which is fighting terrorism, or the side supporting it.

I think Chavez was looking for an excuse to do this for a long time.

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posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:02 PM