Chavez withdraws Venezuela ambassador to Israel

[JackNewtown]

First 4 paragraphs:

CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Thursday he ordered the withdrawal of Venezuela's ambassador in Israel in protest against Israeli military actions.

Chavez, a vocal critic of the U.S. government, has condemned Israeli incursions into Gaza and Lebanon, and frequently expresses support for the Palestinian people.

"I have ordered the withdrawal of our ambassador in Israel," Chavez said during a speech in western Venezuela. He said the move was in response to "our indignation at seeing how the state of Israel continues ... bombarding, killing, quartering."

Chavez has accused the U.S. government of fomenting violence in the Middle East, and recently blamed an "Israeli elite" for the armed conflict in Lebanon.----

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N03125670.htm

[burythehatchet]

1. viva Chavez

[cali]

3. I have no problem with this as long

as Chavez is consistent. Has he withdrawn the ambassador to the U.S.?
Has he called the mess in Iraq U.S. genocide?

[Minstrel Boy]

5. No, and yes

Venezuela's ambassador to the US has not been recalled, but in this recent video of Chavez in London he says Bush should be sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide and murder.

[Hardrada]

4. I second that.

This guy is doing everything a leader should do in the present vile world situation.

[JackNewtown]

6. Chavez is putting his money where his mouth is, unlike the EU

The EU talks a good game but doesn't lift a finger to actually apply pressure to change the situation. It is a shame, the EU is the world's largest economy and has tremendous economic leverage.

[knowbody0]

2. it seems only LATIN America is evolving

[mom cat]

7. They are truly evolving civilization.

[IndianaGreen]

8. Here is what Chavez really said, and it is all true and not anti-Semitic

Venezuela pulls out Israel ambassador

Friday 04 August 2006, 21:01 Makka Time, 18:01 GMT

In a televised speech on Thursday, he called the Israeli attacks "genocide".

He said: "It really causes indignation to see how the state of Israel continues bombing, killing ... with all of the power they have, with the support of the United States."

Chavez has repeatedly criticised the Israeli offensive.

He said: "It's hard to explain to oneself how nobody does anything to stop this horror."

His government has until recently said it had good relations with Israel.

During a recent visit to Iran, Chavez called Israeli attacks on Lebanon a "fascist outrage".

He said: "The Israeli elite repeatedly criticise Hitler's actions against the Jews, and indeed Hitler's actions must be criticised, not just against the Jews but against the world. It's also fascism what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people ... terrorism and fascism."

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/758B61AA-7D24-470F-83D2-78633DA88019.htm

[JackNewtown]

10. Thanks for clearing that up

Unfortunately, the propaganda campaign against Chavez will continue in the media regardless of the facts.

[breakaleg]

9. I hope more countries follow his lead.