Venezuela expels Israeli Ambassador

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

According to BBC News, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry released a statement ordering the expulsion of Cohen and some of his staff.

Venezuela is the first country to take such a diplomatic step in protest at the violence in Gaza and President Hugo Chavez has strongly condemned Israel for its actions, deeming their invasion “an act of barbarism”.

“If there is any shame in the world, the President of Israel should be taken to the International Criminal Court along with the President of the United States,” said Chavez.

He labelled the action taken by the Israelis as “genocidal” and called on the Israeli people to stand up against their government.

“The Israeli army is cowardly attacking worn-out, innocent people while they claim they are defending their people. “I call on the people of Israel to stand up against the government, to demand, to put a hand on their hearts and look at their children and I call on the world to stop this madness,” declared the Venezuelan President.

Governments across Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, have condemned the violence in the Middle East and have called for an end to the fighting.

At least 630 Palestinians have died in the conflict, with the United Nations estimating that about a quarter of those killed are civilians. ~~Adz:Right~~