A July 26 Venezuelan foreign affairs ministry statement reported that Venezuela had initiated a solidarity campaign with Lebanon and Palestine "so that Venezuelans could help mitigate the tragedy caused by the Israeli elite's attacks through endowments". Acting foreign affairs minister Reinaldo Bolivar stated: "The President of the Republic, Hugo Chavez, has given instructions to initiate a big humanitarian campaign ... in order to aid our brothers and sisters from Lebanon and Palestine." An emergency fund was required, Bolivar said, because transporting medical aid from Latin America to the Middle East was difficult. The fund would make it possible to purchase medical supplies in nearby countries. Venezuela's ministry of information reported on August 3 that Venezuela had decided to withdraw its charge d'affaires from Israel in protest at Israel's war on the Lebanese people, which Chavez denounced as "genocide".
VENEZUELA: Solidarity and aid for Lebanon and Palestine
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