Hugo Chavez says that Israel might be worse than Hitler

Reuters:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Friday Israeli leaders should face a genocide trial after their forces killed more than 1,100 Lebanese, most of them civilians, in the month-long military pounding of Lebanon.

Speaking to reporters in Beijing, Chavez described the Jewish state as "perhaps worse" than Hitler.

"I believe that a genocide has occurred (in Lebanon) and that those in Israel who are responsible should be taken to international tribunals for this genocide," Chavez said.

"Israel criticises Hitler a lot and we do too. But they have done something similar or, perhaps worse, who knows, than what the Nazis did ... This is fascism."

The Venezuelan leader, a harsh critic of the United States who frequently expresses sympathy for the Palestine people, has likened Israel to Hitler before.

He has blamed the Middle East conflict on an "Israeli elite" and U.S. influence in the region.

Israel recalled its ambassador to Caracas following comments made by Chavez at the beginning of the month.

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