Months after the expulsion of the Israeli Embassy from Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez invited representatives of the Palestinian Authority to open a diplomatic consulate in his country’s capital. On Monday, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Nicolas Muduro and PA officials signed a joint declaration establishing diplomatic relations between them at a dedication ceremony of the new PA diplomatic mission in Caracas.
PA Foreign Minister Riyad el-Malki thanked Chavez for his support of the PA Arabs during Israel’s military operations in Gaza. “Chavez is the most popular leader in the western world,” el-Malki said.
Venezuela presently has a diplomatic office in Ramallah. In Latin America, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has embassies in Chile, Cuba, Nicaragua, and a diplomatic representative in Peru.
On January 6th, the Venezuelan government expelled Israel’s ambassador and all Israeli officials from Israel’s Embassy in Caracas, in protest of Israel’s Operation ‘Cast Lead’.
Chavez’s Track Record
Venezuela’s move was not the first time it has ousted Israeli officials. During the 2006 War in Lebanon, the Venezuelan president decided to recall its ambassador from Israel. In response, Israel recalled its ambassador from Venezuela.
During Israel’s counter-terror operations in Gaza, Venezuela’s foreign minister condemned Israel and expressed solidarity with PA Arabs. "In this tragic and indignant hour, the people of Venezuela manifest their unconditional solidarity with the heroic Palestinian people, share in the sadness that overcomes thousands of families through the loss of their loved ones, and extends to them a hand by affirming that the government of Venezuela will not rest until it sees those responsible for these criminal atrocities severely punished," the Venezuelan foreign minister said in a statement read on state television by the anchor.
“The Holocaust – this is what is presently happening in Gaza,” Chavez told television viewers during Israel’s military operations this past January. “The president of Israel must be tried in the International Court, together with George Bush,” he stated.
The Venezuelan president has developed a close relationship with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the past two years in a mutual effort to back other countries' "attempting to liberate themselves from the imperialist yoke." Chavez has stated support for Hizbullah and for the Iranian nuclear program but expressed objections to Ahmadinejad's statements that Israel should be eliminated.
In response to the Chavez regime's anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hostility, the Hashomer Hatzair Socialist Zionist youth movement last week initiated a protest campaign targeting Venezuelan embassies worldwide. The demonstrations are continuing this week as well.