British MP quits over Israel, Chavez severs ties

Jim Sheridan, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, resigned as a parliamentary private secretary to the defence team. He voiced concerns over the use of UK airports like Prestwick to refuel US aircraft travelling to Israel.

The 52-year-old said many of his Labour colleagues believed the government's policy was flawed. More than 130 MPs - about half of them Labour - have issued a demand for a recall of parliament to discuss the Lebanon crisis.

"The reason I am resigning is the current conflict in the Middle East," he said. "I don't expect my resignation will have any significant impact on the Prime Minister's objectives in the Middle East, which I genuinely believe to be honourable on his part, but I don't believe they reflect the core values of the Labour Party or indeed the country."

There have been protests after planes carrying "hazardous" cargo refuelled at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire. London has seen mass protests numbering in the hundreds of thousands over the government's support for the war in Lebanon.

Mr Sheridan said: "I can no longer support the government's position of calling for restraint on both sides of the current conflict in Lebanon whilst, in my view, facilitating the refuelling of aircraft in our country that are carrying real weapons of mass destruction, as seen on our television screens."

He commmented that he regarded himself as a friend of the Prime Minister and the government. Something to be said about the parliamentary system of proportional representation. Can you imagine either a Democrat or Republican Congressperson or Senator taking such a step or resigning in the US? Then Foreign Minister, Jack Straw resigned over the Iraq War, but that didn't stop Tony Blair from toeing the war line with President Bush and sending troops to invade Iraq. Nevertheless, Sheridan takes a brave stand that makes audible the voices of millions around the world, who are against this madness in Lebanon.

"Sometimes it takes a friend to say that what you are doing is wrong," he clarified.

"I genuinely believe that our government's domestic agenda has transformed the lives of millions of citizens, but I cannot say that about our foreign policy and that is what really upsets me."

"I think we are now in danger of embarking on an extremely dangerous strategy and we have to stop the bombing and killing of people on both sides of this conflict," he continued.

Scottish National Party defence spokesman Angus Robertson said: "This is the first major crack in the Labour line over the conflict in Lebanon. "He was right to be angry over the use of Scottish airports to transfer weapons of death from the US to Israel."

Elsewhere, the Venezuelan government has decided to sever all ties with the Isreali regime.

The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez said he had "no interest" in maintaining relations with Israel, whom he has accused of committing genocide. Israel sees this as Chavez's allying himself with views similar to those of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has said sometime in the future Israel's government shall vanish from the pages of time. The Venezuelan president has also angered Israel by showing support for Iran, which backs Hizballah. During a visit to Tehran at the end of last month, President Chavez said Venezuela would "stand by Iran at any time and under any condition."

Venezuela recalled its charge d'affaires to Israel last week, prompting Israel to withdraw its ambassador to Caracas on Monday, August 7, 2006.
In a televised speech, Mr Chavez said he had "no interest in maintaining diplomatic relations, or offices, or businesses, or anything with a state like Israel". President Chavez repudiated Israel accusing the Jewish State of committing a "new Holocaust".

"Israel has gone mad. It's attacking, doing the same thing to the Palestinian and Lebanese people that they have criticised - and with reason - the Holocaust. But this is a new Holocaust."

ADL: Chavez comparison of IDF and Hitler is outrageousThe Anti-Defamation League has condemned as "outrageous" statements by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez comparing Israel's military offensive against Hizballah to the actions of Hitler during the Holocaust, and said Chavez' remarks could be used to justify violence against Jews in Venezuela, reports the Tel Aviv based daily Ha'aretz.

"Clearly, President Chavez needs a reality check when it comes to the Middle East conflict," said Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham H. Foxman.

How about a Zionist reality check that doesn't bounce off the heads of women and children in Lebanon killing hundreds and maiming thousands of them?

"It is outrageous for him to suggest that Israel, the home of the Jewish people, is behaving like Nazis. Need we remind Mr. Chavez that the State of Israel, which arose out of the ashes of the Holocaust, once again is fighting to defend itself against an implacable enemy whose goal is the destruction of the Jewish State?"

Here we go again, how many times will that line continue to justify the genocide amd ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians and Lebanese? You're not fooling any of us with those crocodile tears Mr. Zionist mass-murderer.

Israel said it had withdrawn its ambassador to Venezuela "as an act of protest against the one-sided policy of the President of Venezuela and in light of his wild slurs against the State of Israel". Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said: “We have recalled our ambassador to Caracas for consultations." "We are concerned at the attitude of Venezuela," Regev said. "They have allied themselves with the most extreme elements in the region."

Yes, consult the boot on your way out!

It would seem that any criticism of the Israeli policy, even those as universally, condemned as its widescale killing of civilians must be deemed anti-semitism and of course extreme.

Sources:
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/in_focus.php?id=113
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5258722.stm?ls