Protests in Caracas for and against Israeli ambassador expulsion

January 8, 11:53 PMForeign Policy ExaminerAimee Kligman

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You will most likely not hear about the condemnation in Caracas by the Colegio de Internacionalistas de Venezuela (a body of advocates of international cooperation) of President Chavez' expulsion of Israeli ambassador Shlomo Cohen. Chavez defended his decision by saying it was a gesture of "dignity".  Globovision News reported that the Colegio issued a press release this afternoon rejecting Ambassador's Cohen's expulsion from the country. They go on to say that this action positions the Venezuelan government  as a biased party in the arab-israeli conflict, and it does nothing to contribute to the resolution of the hostilities. Quoting from the Spanish text: "We exhort the government of Venezuela to reconsider the measure and to propitiate stages of negotiations that can contribute effectively to the solution of the problems rather than worsening them. "

The Colegio expressed their repudiation of the use of violence and called on to the international organizations to seek alternatives to the war and for respect of international law. It is sad that the International organizations they are calling on have not yet responded to the release. At least not yet.

What has received attention however was a mildly violent protest in Caracas in front of the Israeli embassy, where they proceeded to stamp and burn the Israeli flag (unheard of till now), throw shoes at the building, waving Palestinian and Lebanese flags. The estimated size of the crowd was about 1000.

There were also firecrackers exploded in front of the Embassy, and some spray painted graffiti which said: "long live a free Palestine" on the ground floor store fronts.  Others chanted "Gaza, hold on, the world is rising up". Some protesters jumped over the fence outside the embassy. Many windows were smashed with glass shards all over the ground. 

Associated Press publicized a list description of the photos that were taken of the demonstration, and a woman of Muslim descent was heard saying: ""I would like other countries, both Arab and non-Arab countries to take the same initiative (of expelling their Israeli ambassadors) so that the Israeli people realize that the whole world is against this massacre that they are carrying out." The Associated Press site had not publicized these photos as of this writing.

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