Chavez Slams Israel and USA During Beijing Visit
By Cihan News Agency | Friday, August 25, 2006 | zaman.com
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, paying a visit to China, slammed Israel on Friday condemning Israel’s strikes in Lebanon as comparable to the acts of Adolf Hitler.
Chavez, who cut diplomatic ties with Israel during its attacks on Lebanon, denounced the attacks that killed over a thousand civilians. Chavez compared the Israeli aggression to the acts of Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany, and said Israeli leaders should be prosecuted for genocide before the International Court of Justice.
“The kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers was just a pretext to attack Lebanon. I don’t endorse the kidnapping but it was not a cause for war and fascism,” Chavez told a press conference in Beijing, Friday.
“Israel is doing the same thing today as Hitler did,” he said. “We give our sympathy to the Arab people and condemn Israel. What the Israeli army did in Lebanon was genocide.”
Chavez also criticized the United Nations Security Council for failing to order a ceasefire in time. “Anyway, it is good to see a ceasefire decision taken,” he added.
The Venezuelan President said that the Chinese President Hu Cintao backed his country’s bid for a U.N. Security Council seat.
Chavez criticized the US government for employing every means to block Venezuela from joining the Security Council. “The American imperialists are trying to stop us. We are all against US imperialism.”
The Venezuelan President added that he had received support from South American countries, the Arab league, China and Russia.
Chavez added that he will visit Malaysia, Syria and Angola in the upcoming days.
Recent Comments