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Venezuela: We're honored Israel expelled our diplomats
By The Associated Press
Tags: anti-Semitism, Israel 

Venezuela's government said Wednesday it was proud that Israel has expelled its diplomatic envoys, calling Israel's leaders criminals while denying allegations of anti-Semitism at home.

Israel's Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that it had ordered the Venezuelan ambassador to leave this week, responding to Venezuela's Jan. 6 declaration that it was expelling Israeli diplomats in protest of Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Venezuela escalated the clash on Jan. 14 by saying it was breaking relations altogether, though it apparently left its own ambassador in Israel.
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"The response of the state of Israel is weak, late, and in any case for us it's an honor," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro told the Qatar-based television network Al-Jazeera. "We're proud that the state of Israel that exists today, led by these criminals, made this decision."

The comments were posted on his ministry's Web site.

Maduro also rejected accusations of anti-Semitism by Venezuelan Jewish community leader Abraham Levy.

"All of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities know religious discrimination is not a problem that has or will have a place in our society," Maduro said, complaining that every time a country criticizes Israel's government, it is automatically added to the list of anti-Semites.

Hundreds of demonstrators supported President Hugo Chavez's decision to expel Israeli ambassador Shlomo, spraying graffiti and hurling shoes at Israel's embassy in Venezuela. Some people also spray-painted swastikas on the walls of a Caracas synagogue.

"Where we live, the anti-Semitism is sanctioned," Levy told the world Jewish Congress in Jerusalem on Monday. "It comes from the president, through the government, and into the media."

Israel's offensive was aimed at halting rocket attacks on southern Israel. More than 1,200 Palestinians, many of them civilians, were killed in the fighting.

Relations between Israel and Venezuela were already tense because of Chavez's friendly relations with Iran, which backs Hamas and has called for Israel's destruction.

Maduro also dismissed accusations that Venezuela itself supports militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

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      1.   Citgo gas is from Venezuala. I won`t buy it. 00:04  |  Bronxite10 01/01/09
      2.   Hugo Chavex is like a junkyard dog ... 00:07  |  sinalco 01/01/09
      3.   A misguided Venezuela 00:23  |  Orkochav 01/01/09
      4.   Proud to be on the other side 00:48  |  Serdar KASAPOGLU 01/01/09
      5.   Real Friend 00:57  |  Cool B 01/01/09
      6.   Bye , bye Venezuela 00:57  |  Efrain 01/01/09
      7.   A Bunch of Lying Racists who gave money to FARC 00:04  |  Massouda 01/01/09
      8.   small footnote to history 00:05  |  MarkC 01/01/09
      9.   Who really cares anyway? 00:11  |  de 01/01/09
      10.   Hmmm 00:12  |  Daniel 01/01/09
      11.   I salute Venezuela 00:31  |  Kamie 01/01/09
      12.   Venezuela is in a down-ward spiral 00:43  |  Yoav 01/01/09
      13.   lol 00:00  |  alan 01/01/09
      14.   Fortunately Venezuela is a great country...... 00:15  |  Romy 01/01/09
      15.   Where is Ollie North when you need him?? 00:26  |  Rambo 01/01/09
      16.   Seen from Latinoamerica 00:29  |  Alejandro 01/01/09
      17.   chavez is the same clown that stood in front of the u.n.,sniffing 00:30  |  terrornator 01/01/09
      18.   What about Wayuu tribe you are forcing to be islamic terrorists? 00:12  |  Marcelo 01/01/09
      19.   Venezuela 00:54  |  Fidel 01/01/09
      20.   Oil prices and tourism are both way down 00:58  |  Murray of Montreal 01/01/09
      21.   Venezuela gov`t: We`re honored Israel expelled our diplomats 00:12  |  Taylor 01/01/09
      22.   The Venezuelan people deserve better... 00:24  |  US CITIZEN 01/01/09
      23.   KAMIE No respect due for a country that fires from amongst its 00:36  |  PETER SM 01/01/09
      24.   to kamie re venerzuela 00:44  |  alberto 01/01/09
      25.   Chavez Is Losing Much 00:34  |  Moshe 01/01/09
      26.   lol @ Murray of Montreal 00:40  |  Paul 01/01/09
      27.   Chavez Perfect Latin-American I... 00:08  |  David 01/01/09
      28.   JOSE BRECHNER 00:04  |  Vicor 01/01/09
      29.   Foreign Aid 00:16  |  Burt Burton 01/01/09
      30.   According to a 2008 survey released a few monts ago by the Pew... 00:40  |  Jean Van Daem 01/01/09
      31.   Latin American countries were refuge for Nazis. 00:54  |  Harvey 01/01/09
      32.   Venezuela 00:27  |  Nechama 01/01/09
      33.   To Harvey of London 00:55  |  Latino 01/01/09
      34.   While OCCUPATIOIN lasts, Venezuela stands to gain prestige 00:13  |  Ivar 01/01/09
      35.   22 Latino, not meant as it read, sorry if it offended, read on 00:55  |  Harvey 01/01/09
      36.   Chavez, Latin American Lover Of His Own Big Ego 00:16  |  Lavi 01/01/09
      37.   Venezuela on a path of self-destructing 00:43  |  Dwido 01/01/09
      38.   Swastikas? 00:34  |  Bill 01/01/09
      39.   Have you ever visit Venezuela ? 00:08  |  TOMY 01/01/09
      40.   Venezuela+Israel 00:22  |  John LJ 01/01/09
      41.   Good for Chavez 00:24  |  Natallie Durson 01/01/09
      42.   Alejandro 00:44  |  alfedo 01/01/09
      43.   THANKS, SENOR HUGO 00:53  |  indrajaya 01/01/09
      44.   jews in Venezuela fear this man 00:03  |  Oshran 01/01/09
      45.   Serdar kasapoglu 00:14  |  David Israel 01/01/09
      46.   Venezuela honored 00:53  |  SKH 01/01/09
      47.   venezuela: honered that Israel expelled their diplomat 00:48  |  aharon 01/01/09
      48.   in persuit of humanity 00:07  |  sadaf 01/01/09
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