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Venezuela's government said Wednesday it was proud that Israel expelled its diplomats, calling Israel's leaders criminals while denying allegations of anti-Semitism at home.Israel's Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that it had ordered Venezuelan envoys to leave this week, responding to Venezuela's Jan. 6 declaration that it was expelling Israeli diplomats because of Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip. Venezuela escalated the clash on Jan. 14 by saying it was breaking relations altogether, though it apparently left its own envoy to Israel."The response of the state of Israel is weak, late, and in any case for us it's an honor," Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro(picture left)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 a 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, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. "It comes from the president, through the government, and into the media."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 terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah. By ASSOCIATED PRESS CARACAS, Venezuela
As in the days of Noah...
