Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blasted Israel Thursday as a "genocidal" and "killer" state as he began a visit to Damascus. Chavez also called on the Jewish State to hand over the Golan Heights to Syria.
Following a meeting with Chavez, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said, "Israel is not ready to make peace either in the short term or the long term... all Israeli governments since 1991 are identical and right up to the present the peace process has produced nothing new."
Chavez said the two countries will sign several agreements, Including a plan for a joint refinery venture in Syria. On Friday, he is scheduled to visit the southern province of Sueida, homeland of many of Venezuela's million strong Syrian community.