Venezuela Tosses Israeli Ambassador and Embassy Staff

Today's bombing of a UN school in Gaza by Israeli forces was a strong topic at the U.N.

Nicolás Maduro Moros Courtesy: mre.gob.ve

(SALEM, Ore.) - Venezuela responded to the bloodshed in Gaza on Tuesday by expelling Israel's ambassador and embassy staff. This is not a new reaction for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a harsh critic of both Israel and the United States, who has withdrawn Venezuela's diplomatic envoys in the past over political differences.

In fact, last year the country kicked U.S. ambassador out the over with allied Bolivia.

Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Israel's campaign constituted "flagrant violations of International Law" and the use of "state terrorism."

Chavez compared the hundreds of dead and thousands of wounded in Gaza to the "Holocaust". It appears as though Israel's appearance as a country trying to defend itself is fading.

“For that reason we want to transmit in this loaded act of love, a desire of peace, as well as indignation, pain and repudiation,” Minister Nicolás Maduro said.

The Venezuelan chief executive says they can feel the suffering brought about by the massacre, comparing it to genocide against the children, men and women of Palestine.

Maduro called it, “A continuous massacre of more than 60 years" and said he believes that the bombing and military occupation of that portion of Palestinian territory is nothing more than a criminal act.

The statements were made in front of the Organization of United Nations during a meeting of the Security Council. Today's bombing of a UN school in Gaza by Israeli forces was a strong topic at the U.N.

"That says much about the mind of these criminals, of how they think, of how they act, of how they plan, the murder against the town of Palestine, is also a murder towards the towns of the world, against all the Arab, Islamic, Christian towns, against the towns of Latin America and the Caribbean,” expressed Chancellor Maduro.

He says he believes there is peace in the future, and that the fighting will stop. Like others in Venezuela, he called for the criminal prosecution of the President of Israel. He also says George W. Bush should be charged with war crimes in a world court.

Lamenting the plight of the Jewish people, he suggested that the Israeli's recall what their own people experienced in the dark years of the 1930's and 40's when considering the current military operation.

He says he hopes, “That the world raises its voice, most powerful of the powers of the world that are the towns, that are international public opinion, and continue raising its voice in the streets of all the cities and towns, until the imposition of a ceasefire that restores the peace in the Palestinian town”.

Israel's Response

Israel responded to the expulsion of their diplomat and embassy personnel in Venezuela today, the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem saying that Israel will continue to protect itself from its enemies, amongst them Hamas and Iran.

The Foreign Ministry added that every country must decide whether it is on the side which is fighting terrorism, or the side supporting it. The problem is that the question is becoming increasingly blurred as the civilian death toll at the hands of the Israeli military rises.