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B’nai B’rith International strongly condemns Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s statement on June 27 pronouncing Israel as a “genocidal” government and calls on the international community to denounce such anti-Israel rhetoric. The comments occurred during a meeting between Chavez and Syrian President Bashar Assad in Caracas.

Chavez’s meeting with Assad comes during a time when Venezuela and Iran have formed a partnership in opposition to Israel and the United States.

“This is another example of the deplorable anti-Israel sentiment coming from the Venezuelan president,” B’nai B’rith International President Dennis W. Glick said. “This has not been the first time Chavez has made these types of statements and will probably not be the last. They continue to be unacceptable and cannot stand.”

Chavez voiced strong views that the Golan Heights be returned to Syria and criticized Israel’s blockade of Gaza. He referred to Israel as “the murderous arm of the Yankee empire,” and aligned with Syria by describing them both as having “common enemies.”