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Graffiti found in Caracas in August 2006. (Jewish Agency) Last update - 15:05 30/09/2007 Israel mulls downgrading ties with Venezuela due to Iran alliance By Barak Ravid , Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Venezuela, Israel, Iran  Israel is considering downgrading its relations with Venezuela in light of the extremist anti-Israel line taken by the country's government under President Hugo Chavez. Israel is concerned about the growing alliance between Chavez and his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. A highly-placed source in Jerusalem says only preliminary talks have been held on the issue and no decision has been made. Israel's ambassador to Venezuela, Shlomo Cohen, is due to leave his post next June. The Foreign Ministry has no plans to name a replacement at this point, preferring to send an acting ambassador instead. The possibility of naming a temporary head of mission in Caracas was raised at a recent Foreign Ministry meeting. Such a move would amount to a downgrading of Jerusalem's relations with Caracas. Relations between Israel and Venezuela have deteriorated significantly since Chavez came to power. Chavez, the leader of Latin America's anti-American camp, has cozied up to Ahmadinejad, whom he sees as a ideological ally. The Iranian president went to Caracas on an official visit a few days ago - his third in two years. Advertisement The warm relationship between Caracas and Tehran is expressed in several areas of bilateral cooperation. Two weeks ago the entire staff of Iran's embassy in Caracas was invited to be guests of honor on Chavez's own television program, during which the Venezuelan president greeted them during the live taping. Israeli sources who are following the Venezuela-Iran relationship closely note that Chavez recently instituted several reforms inspired by the Iranian Republic's Islamic Revolution. He plans to establish militias modeled on the Revolutionary Guards, as a counterweight to the regular army. During the Second Lebanon War, Chavez criticized Israel harshly, comparing Israel's attacks against Palestinians and Lebanon with the "methods of Hitler" and saying that the Israelis are doing what Hitler did, killing innocent children and entire families. In the wake of these statements, Venezuela's ambassador to Israel was summoned and reprimanded. In response, Venezuela downgraded its diplomatic relations with Israel and recalled its ambassador to Caracas. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni recalled the Israeli ambassador to Jerusalem, but he returned to Caracas soon after. Bookmark to del.icio.us   In the line of fire Rights Group: Over 50% of Gaza casualties weren't militants. Uncle Sam blames you U.S. blames Hamas for sparking violence in south Israel, Gaza.   1.   WOULD HUGO CHAVEZ OR THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE CARE? 02:28  |  Mohamed Malleck 30/09/07   2.   To #1 - Sometimes you have to do the right thing. 03:17  |  Ben 30/09/07   3.   Sever Diplomatic Ties 03:22  |  Johnny Weintraub 30/09/07   4.   Spies 03:24  |  Truth Approached 30/09/07   5.   Hugh Chavez wouldn`t lose sleep over it... 03:40  |  Silvienne 30/09/07   6.   Don`t cede diplomatic territory to Iran: STAY AND FIGHT ! 04:08  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/09/07   7.   IRAN Is In Our Backyard BECAUSE OF Bush, Neo-Cons, Israel, Etc. 04:16  |  Proud Pal Defender 30/09/07   8.   stay in venezuela 04:42  |  patrick hammel 30/09/07   9.   A lot of people criticized Israel during the 2nd Lebanon War. 05:01  |  Maureen Ann 30/09/07   10.   Venezuela 05:17  |  US CITIZEN 30/09/07   11.   This is the best America can do to "isolate" Chavez 05:49  |  Natallie Durson 30/09/07   12.   Agree with #1 and #6 -- Stay and Fight 06:33  |  Slibovitz 30/09/07   13.   Arms Sales 06:41  |  Slibovitz 30/09/07   14.   What if Latin American countries downgrade ties with Israel? 07:23  |  Petteri 30/09/07   15.   Spanish and Muslim Conquest 07:33  |  Frank Littlehammer 30/09/07   16.   # 4 08:02  |  Kris 30/09/07   17.   Please, do all of South America a favor. 08:19  |  Maki 30/09/07   18.   #9 Maureen the Hypocrite 08:24  |  Alex 30/09/07   19.   venezuela representation 09:02  |  ari 30/09/07   20.   Chavez would love Israel to break relations 09:09  |  Semsem 30/09/07   21.   Gee...ya think its about time?? 09:30  |  SLAVO 30/09/07   22.   As If Anyone Would Give A Sh*t 09:54  |  chet 30/09/07   23.   Israeli Stupidity 10:19  |  Anton 30/09/07   24.   To Alex #19 14:17  |  Avi 30/09/07   25.   So what??? 14:45  |  Joe 30/09/07   26.   downgrading ties with Chaves 14:48  |  Menashe Aron 30/09/07   27.   No loss 15:05  |  AM 30/09/07   28.   Downgrading ties to promote aliya? 15:18  |  Galuteus Maximus 30/09/07   29.   #17 Maki 15:42  |  gilbert 30/09/07   30.   #28 - Galuteus 15:48  |  JES 30/09/07   31.   "Judios go Home!" 15:52  |  ChanahS 30/09/07   32.   Moron Ann # 9 the hypocrate (again) 15:54  |  ChanahS 30/09/07   33.   Imperial Liberals 16:15  |  Ecosutra 30/09/07   34.   Israel vs Chavez 17:02  |  Pedro Perez 30/09/07   35.   Downgrading ties with Venezuela (I) 17:09  |  Ephraim 30/09/07   36.   Downgrading ties with Venezuela (II) 17:11  |  Ephraim 30/09/07   37.   Downgrading relations with Venezuela, necessary but temporary 17:12  |  Pepe 30/09/07   38.   Dont mull... 12:38  |  Steve Mcgarret 01/10/07   39.   Vennzuela 23:09  |  Hally 03/03/08   40.   Israelis uninformed 23:24  |  Larry MacN 03/03/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Nine immoral solutions for Gaza - a guide Responses: 153 Israel: Latest sanctions against Iran not enough Responses: 173 Obama says United States should not meet with Hamas Responses: 104 Nehemia Shtrasler: There is no way out but to talk to Hamas Responses: 87 Researcher: Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai Responses: 173 Rosner's Domain What to Read: Ambassador vs. Ambassador - Kurtzer with Obama Study: Young American Jews are not alienated from Israel Rosner: Obama, Clinton aides court hawkish Jews in Ohio Hillary Clinton comes out swinging as Ohio primary nears Obama`s top adviser says doesn't believe in imposing a peace settlement More Headlines 22:03 Clashes erupt as IDF vehicles enter south Gaza 21:24 Bush says optimistic over Israel-PA peace deal in 2008 18:08 Barak: IDF will increase pressure in Gaza if rockets don't stop 20:39 UN rights body holds moment of silence for Gaza 'martyrs' 21:48 From Superman to Sabraman, museum exhibits Jewish comics 20:18 Obama and Clinton neck and neck in possibly last U.S. primary 21:12 Thousands protest IDF Gaza offensive in Umm al-Fahm 17:54 Study: Young American Jews are not alienated from Israel 13:46 MI5's secret weapon against Hitler: shady Jewish astrologer 18:42 Deputy Defense Min. orders louder rocket warning siren in Ashkelon 18:25 Hamas lets Fatah man who lost two kids in IDF raid visit their graves Previous Editions Select Day 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb

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