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Last update - 00:51 01/01/2009
Israeli envoy to Venezuela departs after being expelled by Chavez over Gaza op
By The Associated Press
Tags: Gaza, Israel, Hamas 

Israel's ambassador to Venezuela left the country Friday, expelled by President Hugo Chavez in rejection of Israel's attacks on Gaza.

Chavez had given Ambassador Shlomo Cohen and some embassy personnel until Friday to leave the country.

"We are harboring the hope that this will be resolved quickly and relations will improve," Cohen told The Associated Press before boarding a flight to Frankfurt, Germany.
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On Thursday, Cohen called the expulsion "the most difficult moment in the more than 50-year history of relations between Venezuela and Israel."

Chavez called Cohen's expulsion a "gesture of dignity" in response to Israeli air and ground strikes on Gaza, which have killed at least 777 Palestinians since Dec. 27 - many of them civilians. The Israeli offensive aims to stop the Palestinian militant group Hamas from firing rockets into southern Israel.

Cohen defended the Israel offensive, saying there was "no alternative."

Jewish community leader David Bittan said the departure of the ambassador and embassy personnel means Israeli residents and Venezuelans with family in Israel have nowhere to go to resolve passport issues.

Elsewhere in Latin America on Friday, pro-Israeli demonstrators took to the streets in El Salvador and Uruguay's government announced its support for UN efforts to broker a cease-fire in Gaza.

In El Salvador's capital, more than 100 people gathered outside the Israeli Embassy.

"We're supporting the embassy and the people of Israel in their reaction in legitimate defense and telling them we want peace for both sides," said Moises Ortiz, waving the flags of Israel and El Salvador together.

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  • Israel weighs expelling Venezuelan envoys after Chavez dismisses ambassador
  • Report: West fears Hezbollah setting up cells in Venezuela
  • To protest Gaza op, Venezuela gives Israeli diplomats 72 hours to leave
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      1.   well done chavez.. 00:30  |  ravi 01/01/09
      2.   venezuela 00:08  |  av 01/01/09
      3.   No real loss 00:40  |  David 01/01/09
      4.   Pity on the wicked chavez!!! 00:04  |  victor 01/01/09
      5.   Chavez and his pocket-size Stalinist dictatorship 00:16  |  Motty Levi 01/01/09
      6.   Bravo Chavez! Demonstrations in Britain want the same! 00:29  |  Maureen Ann 01/01/09
      7.   Chavez..Expulsion 00:42  |  The Teacher/Instruct 01/01/09
      8.   Expulsion from Venezuela 00:49  |  aurora 01/01/09
      9.   We can dream, can`t we? 00:14  |  hollingsworth 01/01/09
      10.   Chavez is unafraid of Israel 00:17  |  Blackpool Rock 01/01/09
      11.   antiisraeli riots, Sponsored by chavez 00:35  |  Dave 01/01/09
      12.   #1 Ravi you need Israel 00:37  |  Conroy 01/01/09
      13.   #1 ravi 00:02  |  db 01/01/09
      14.   chavez 00:06  |  db 01/01/09
      15.   Chavez is the new Che Gevara 00:49  |  Aounist 01/01/09
      16.   Ravi does not speak for Indians 00:28  |  George 01/01/09
      17.   chavez 00:34  |  good observer 01/01/09
      18.   Chavez is a hero 00:17  |  Refugee 01/01/09
      19.   The latin American joker 00:52  |  Yosi 01/01/09
      20.   chavez 00:21  |  Luis 01/01/09
      21.   May G`d bless all Israelis and not allow any Israeli to fall. 00:59  |  OPS 01/01/09
      22.   What about the 600 killed in Venezuela? Chavez expell yourself! 00:54  |  Jose 01/01/09
      23.   Chavez, the hypocrite 00:52  |  El_Justiciero 01/01/09
      24.   its his country its his right 00:00  |  JOE 01/01/09
      25.   The king of... 00:13  |  hermina 01/01/09
      26.   # 7 Let`s hope he meets Che`s fate. 00:31  |  Petra 01/01/09
      27.   # 24 Chaves is a dead man balking 00:33  |  Petra 01/01/09
      28.   LONG LIVE CHAVEZ 00:43  |  Mike 01/01/09
      29.   When Chavez is the criteria of dignity the world lost it! 00:53  |  Father Emanuel 01/01/09
      30.   The difference between evil and good 00:59  |  lote 01/01/09
      31.   chaves 00:50  |  virgil 01/01/09
      32.   Israaiil 00:02  |  Yashua 01/01/09
      33.   VIVA Chavez ! 00:14  |  Horst Wessel 01/01/09
      34.   ironically we need israel 00:18  |  anonyfamous 01/01/09
      35.   A lie 00:08  |  Juan Pueblo 01/01/09
      36.   Juan Pueblo Did you notice the Kaffiyeh on the placard holder 00:02  |  PETER SM 01/01/09
      37.   Cahvez is nothing but an assassin 00:09  |  Jorge Higuero 01/01/09
      38.   Next step: Chavez Gevara should also expel the US diplomats 00:12  |  Aounist 01/01/09
      39.   VIRGIL LOL ANOTHER NEO NAZI DOOMED TO FAILURE AGAIN 00:28  |  Petra 01/01/09
      40.   Well Done 00:40  |  OPS 01/01/09
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