Israel expels Venezuelan envoys Demonstrators in Venezuela supported Chavez's decision to expel the Israeli ambassador [File: EPA] Israel has given Venezuela's mission to the country until Friday to leave following Caracas' decision to cut off diplomatic ties.
Venezuela's ambassador in Tel Aviv and two of his staff had been ordered to leave and are expected to depart on Thursday, the Israeli foreign ministry announced on Wednesday. Caracas said that Israel was also expelling its chief diplomat in the Palestinian West Bank. Venezuela had initially expelled Israeli emissaries to the country on January 6, following Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip. It then decided to cut off diplomatic relations on January 14, although its own embassy in Israel continued to function. 'Proud of expulsion' "The response of the state of Israel is weak, late and, in any case for us, it's an honour," Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's foreign minister, told Al Jazeera. "We're proud that the state of Israel that exists today, led by these criminals, made this decision." Maduro also denied his government was anti-Semitic, complaining that counties criticising Israel are "automatically added to the list of anti-Semites". "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. Abraham Levy, a Jewish community leader, had accused Venezuela of anti-Semitism. Maduro also said that Caracas had no relations with Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, or Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia group, which fought a war against Israel in 2006. More than 1,300 Palestinians died in Israel's war on Gaza, which lasted three-weeks, many of them civilians. Fourteen Israel's died during the same period. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Turkish PM Welcomed Home After Israel Flap Erdogan walked Out Of Davos Conference After Heated Exchange With Israeli President Turkey's prime minister received a hero's welcome home Friday after he reproached Israel's president over the Gaza offensive and stalked off the stage at the World Economic Forum. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was greeted by a jubilant crowd of more than 5,000 supporters, many waving Turkish and Palestinian flags, who flooded Istanbul's airport when his plane touched down about 2 a.m. Some outside of the airport gate held banners that applauded his Palestinian stance in Davos. "The conqueror of Davos," one banner read. Hours earlier, the Turkish leader and Israeli President Shimon Peres raised their voices and traded accusations in front of a packed audience at a World Economic Forum panel. Peres was passionate in his defense of Israel's three-week offensive against Hamas militants, launched in reaction to eight years of rocket fire aimed at Israeli territory. As he spoke, Peres often turned toward Erdogan, who in his remarks had criticized the Israeli blockade of Gaza, saying it was an "open air prison, isolated from the rest of the world" and referred to the Palestinian death toll of about 1,300, more than half of those civilians. Thirteen Israelis also died. Erdogan was angry when a panel moderator cut off his remarks in response Peres defending Israel's offensive against Gaza. Erdogan tried to rebut the Israeli leader but the moderator, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, kept cutting him off. "I find it very sad that people applaud what you said," Erdogan said. "You killed people. And I think that it is very wrong." Peres' and Erdogan's raised voices were highly unusual at the elite gathering of corporate and world leaders, which is usually marked by polite dialogue. "When it comes to killing, you know it too well," the Turkish leader said "You kill people," Erdogan told the 85-year-old Israeli leader. "I remember the children who died on beaches. I remember two former prime ministers who said they felt very happy when they were able to enter Palestine on tanks." When Erdogan was repeatedly being cut off by the moderator and not allowed a 10 minute response to Pere's 30 minute "self defense" rhetoric. He stated "you can't discuss these matters in 15 minutures, you won't allow me 10 minutes to respond while you gave him 30 minutes. This davos is useless and will not be come to Davis again" and walked off stage, leaving fellow panelists U.N. Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon and Arab League Secretary Amr Moussa. In brief comments at Istanbul's airport, Erdogan said he had been insulted. "My responsibility is to protect the honor of the Turkish nation." He added that Peres called him before he left Davos and expressed his regrets. The heated debate with Israel and Turkey at the center was significant because of the key role Turkey has played as a moderator between Israel and Syria. Ultimately, Erdogan stressed he left not because of a dispute with Peres but because he was not given time to respond to the Israeli leader's remarks. Erdogan also complained that Peres had 25 minutes while he was only given 12 minutes. "I did not target at all in any way the Israeli people, President Peres, or the Jewish people," Erdogan told a news conference afterward. "I am a prime minister, a leader who has specifically, expressly stated that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity," he said. Moussa, a former Egyptian foreign minister, said Erdogan's action was understandable. "Mr. Erdogan said what he wanted to say and then he left. That's all. He was right." Of Israel, he said, "They don't listen." Erdogan brushed past reporters outside the hall. His wife appeared upset. "All Peres said was a lie. It was unacceptable," she said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments: No wonder he interrupted Mr. Erdogan , David R. Ignatius is of Armenian descent. The Western propaganda machine now has its binoculars on Erdogan! The Furious Passage of Tayyip Erdogan - http://www.turkishforum.com/content/2009/01/30/the-furious-passage-of-tayyip-erdogan/ Turkey's religious bent - http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/28/opinion/oew-ellis28
