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Thursday 31 July 2014 - 06:43

Bolivia declares Israel a terrorist state

Story Code : 402277
A picture taken from the southern Israeli-Gaza Strip border shows an explosion moments after an Israeli air strike on Gaza City, on July 11, 2014.
A picture taken from the southern Israeli-Gaza Strip border shows an explosion moments after an Israeli air strike on Gaza City, on July 11, 2014.
President Evo Morales announced the move during a talk with a group of educators in the city of Cochabamba.
 
It "means, in other words, we are declaring (Israel) a terrorist state," he said.
 
The treaty has allowed Israelis to travel freely to Bolivia without a visa since 1972.
 
Morales said the Gaza offensive shows "that Israel is not a guarantor of the principles of respect for life and the elementary precepts of rights that govern the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of our international community."
 
More than two weeks of fighting in Gaza have left 1,300 dead and 6,000 wounded amid an intense Israeli air and ground campaign.
 
In the latest development, 16 people were killed after two Israeli shells slammed into a United Nations school, drawing international protests.
 
Bolivia broke off diplomatic relations with Israel in 2009 over a previous military operation in Gaza.
 
In mid-July, Morales filed a request with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to prosecute Israel for "crimes against humanity."
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