Israel expels top diplomat

2009-01-07 12:00

Jerusalem - Israel is expelling Venezuela's charge d'affaires in response to the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Caracas over the war in Gaza, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"We obviously will take retaliatory measures and will expel the Venezuelan charge d'affaires in Tel Aviv on Wednesday," the spokesperson, Yigal Palmor, told AFP.

The charge d'affaires is Venezuela's top diplomat to the Jewish state.

Venezuela on Tuesday ordered the expulsion of Israel's ambassador to Caracas as calls mounted in Latin America for an end to the Jewish state's deadly military assault on the Gaza Strip.

Lawmakers in Ecuador accused Israel of crimes against humanity, while Colombia and Guatemala urged an immediate ceasefire after 11 days of air strikes and ground battles that have killed some 660 Palestinians.

- SAPA