Shiite cleric praises Chavez’s position on Gaza

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Shiite cleric Qassim al-Taee on Wednesday praised the position of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez regarding the Israeli military operation of Gaza, explaining that Chavez removed the “masks of Arabs,” according to a release issued by al-Taee’s office. “Israel threatens international peace and security,” al-Taee said in the release that was received by IraqiNews.com news agency. He described Arab leaders’ positions concerning the Israeli attack on Gaza as “shy.” “The current conflict is between Muslims and Arabs on the one hand, and the Zionist entity on the other hand,” he added. Al-Taee thanked Chavez for deporting the Israeli ambassador to Venezuela in protest against the Israeli operation. “This act removed the masks of Arabs,” he commented. MH (P)/SR 1