Bolivian president Morales declares Israel terrorist state

Bolivian President Evo Morales declared Israel a “terrorist state” and tore up a long-standing visa exemption agreement with the country in protest at the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza strip.

Morales announced that the Bolivian government would now be demanding Israeli visitors apply for a visa in order to enter the South American country.

“We are declaring Israel a terrorist state,” Morales said, adding that Israel’s military operation meant the country “is not a guarantor of the principles of respect for life that govern the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of our international community.”

Earlier in July, Morales filed a request with the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights to prosecute Israel for “crimes against humanity.”

Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were broken off in 2009, during the last major Israeli offensive in Gaza. At that time, Morales labeled the conflict a “genocide.”

A visa exemption agreement between Israel and Bolivia was signed in August 1972, during the Bolivian dictatorship. South America is popular destination with young Israelis, who will be affected by the move.

Over the past two weeks five South American countries – Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru and Chile – have recalled their ambassadors in Israel, a major act of protest in diplomatic language.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said Monday that a “massacre” was taking place in the Gaza Strip and backed calls from the United Nations for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

On Tuesday, a statement released by four members of the Mercosur group of South American economies after a summit in the Venezuela capital, Caracas, condemned Israel’s “disproportionate use of force.” Paraguay did not sign the document.