Three days ago, three actions taken by Venezuela's top government formed an episode in the negative shift that have official relations between our country and the Middle East.
"President of Israel should be taken to the International Criminal Court." This first review of President Hugo Chávez during the inauguration of a hospital in Caracas order appeared to be a force exerted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that few hroas later issued a statement announcing the expulsion of Israel's ambassador to Spain, Shlomo Cohen and accredited diplomatic staff.
few minutes later, the statement was read with delight in the National Assembly, whose members, wearing kaffe (traditional Arab robes) and carrying flags representing the Palestinian movement, argued in the same isntante agreement against military action Israel in the Gaza Strip caused (always remember) as a result of the continued firing of Qassam rockets from the region to Israeli towns.
Finally, the main mosque in Caracas, in the area of \u200b\u200bQuebrada Honda, was also the scene of protests, aupadas by the government. It brought together, as well as parliamentarians, representatives of gobieno others, including Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro.
action is not new. Since 2006, the President ordered the withdrawal of Venezuela's charge d'affaires in Israel, Hector Quintero also in response to defensive actions undertaken by that country against Hezbollah terrorists in northern Lebanon.
Beyond the possible anti-Semitism evident in these actions (and in others, such as low close relations between government and the Venezuelan Jewish community), there is always to reflect on the role that historically has had Venezuela in Middle East conflict. A role that, when there has been provided to assist has been limited to refrain from actions that could be interpreted as favoring one side or another.
The enemy of my friend
Indeed, after Venezuela was one of the countries drivers of AG/181 resolution of the UN, which called for the creation of two states in the region Its entry into the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), forced to engage in "Neutral" or friendly to both parties in conflict. In Israel, by its relations of friendship and scientific exchange, military, etc.. With the Arab world for their economic interests, mainly in relation to oil.
This situation held for nearly fifty years, broke with Chávez came to power and his attempts to establish a "new geopolitics"
Chavez began to strengthen relations with nations and individuals traditionally enemies of Israel, as the former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
The "icing on the cake" has been the close friendship that, since his election, maintained with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, notorious for its stance
Holocaust denier and speech in favor of the disappearance of the state of Israel.
This situation has joined the defense of the president on terrorist movements Hamas and Hezbollah, whose leader, Hassan Nasrallah urged Arab nations to "follow the example" of Chavez.
The consequence of these relationships is evident in the Israeli Foreign Ministry's reaction upon learning of his expulsion Ambassador of Venezuela. "The Jewish State" continue to defend itself from its enemies, including Hamas and Iran, with which Venezuela has close ties. "Venezuela must choose which side of this war. You must choose between fighting terrorism and those who support it. It is no surprise that Venezuela has the world again clear which side is positioned, "said the statement issued by the department, which the president replied, with his usual altisonancia, who was" on the side of free peoples. " .. And of course, also the side of terrorism.
0 comments:
Post a Comment