Chavez likely to cut Venezuela ties with Israel

Reuters ^ | 2006-08-09 | Brian Ellsworth

[lizol]

CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday Venezuela would likely sever relations with Israel in protest over Israel's military campaign against Lebanon.

Chavez, a harsh critic of the United States who frequently expresses sympathy for the Palestine people, announced last week he had ordered the withdrawal of Venezuela's ambassador in Israel. Israel withdrew its chief diplomat in Caracas in response. "We have withdrawn our diplomatic representation from the state of Israel and they have also withdrawn their ambassador," Chavez said during an evening speech. "The most likely next step will be for us to break diplomatic relations, because I have no interest in maintaining diplomatic relations, or offices, or businesses, or anything with a state like Israel." Chavez has openly criticized Israeli incursions into Gaza and Lebanon, and has blamed the Middle East conflict on an "Israeli elite" and U.S. influence in the region.

[Argus]

Venezuela has no stake in Lebanon or vice versa. But the dictator's an anti-Semite, and his word is law. Those who hate America invariably hate Israel, and those who hate Israel also invariably hate America. They are all the enemy.

[surely_you_jest]

Are there many Jews in Venezuela?

[Ron in Acreage]

Stay out of Citgo. Their gas comes from Venezuelan oil.

[DustyMoment]

Israel will be SOOOOO disappointed!

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Chavez likely to cut Venezuela ties with Israel"

Maybe he will send troops to Lebanon to help the Hezzies.

[Tzimisce]

Only the media cares what the superpower of Venzuela thinks of the Israel/Lebanon thing....

[txhurl]

Now that Iraq is more or less out of the axis of evil, we need to replace it with Venezuela.

[white trash redneck]

And why exactly is the Venezuelan dictator's opinion on the Middle East of any importance to anybody?

[APRPEH]

BACKGROUNDER - JEWS IN VENEZUELA

[surely_you_jest]

Thanks.