The presidents of Venezuela and Palestine met yesterday in the presidential palace Miraflores in Caracas and signed nine agreements, including one to construct health facilities in Palestine.
As the United Nations (UN) Security Council and General Assembly will debate the Palestinian cause and possible recognition of it as a sovereign state in the next few days, the Venezuelan government has produced a public letter supporting the Palestinian cause and has called for “worldwide debate” on the issue.
In this public letter, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez supports the independence of Palestine, examines the history of the strugge, and also addresses some complex issues such as the difference between Zionism and Judaism.
On Wednesday representatives of the Venezuelan and Turkish governments announced the successful conclusion of talks aimed at strengthening bi-lateral relations, establishing direct flights between Caracas and Istanbul, and working together within the United Nations (UN) to defend “the cause of Palestine.”
“The only weapon my son had was his video camera,” said the Cristina Soler, mother of David Segarra, a Spanish Telesur journalist and resident of Venezuela, who was detained early this morning by Israeli marines as they attacked the fleet of aid ships heading towards the Gaza Strip in Palestine. The Venezuelan government also officially condemned the attack, calling it an “action of war against unarmed civilians”.
By Corneta (Caracas Cultural Weekly), May 7th 2010
An interview with Palestinian artist Nidal El-Khairy, who is currently in Caracas to show his work at the Rómulo Gallegos Center for Latin American Studies. The exhibition opens on Wednesday May 12, at 7pm. He will also be participating in the first Venezuelan Urban Intervention Festival to be held at the end of the month.
The president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, addressed the Venezuelan National Assembly (AN) and met with President Hugo Chavez on Friday in Caracas, and the Venezuelan government pledged its support for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.
On Monday, Venezuela and the Palestinian Authority established formal diplomatic relations and announced the opening of a Palestinian embassy in Caracas.
