Lebanese town names street after "real man" Chavez for expelling "Israeli" envoy

BIREH: The north Lebanese town of Bireh has named a street after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for expelling "Israel's" ambassador because of its onslaught on the Gaza Strip, the mayor says. "It's the least we can do for this great man who revived hope in our hearts and took revenge for us on the Zionist entity," Mohammad Wehbe told AFP, saying the move was to "honor him and raise our spirits."
The main road to Bireh, 45 kilometers north of the port city of Tripoli, was lined with banners reading: "The nation needs men like Chavez" and "Chavez expelled the 'Israeli' ambassador. When will you do that, Arab rulers?" Portraits of Chavez are plastered all over the town with a population of 17,000.
"We saw Chavez kick out the 'Israeli' ambassador and hoped Arab leaders would do the same," Wehbe said.
Egypt and Jordan have diplomatic relations with "Israel" and have come under fire for not breaking off contacts after "Israel" began its offensive on the Gaza Strip that has killed at least 900 Palestinians since December 27.
Sunni cleric Bilal Rifai told the AFP: "We don't have a direct relationship with Chavez. We are not of the same religion. We don't speak the same language. But he shared our pain and this deserves our appreciation and respect."
Chavez's portrait took center stage at protests in Beirut last week when demonstrators raised his portrait with a slogan directed at Arab leaders that read: "This is what real men are like."
Chavez expelled "Israel's" ambassador to Caracas on January 6 and "Israel" retaliated a day later, saying it was expelling Venezuela's charge d'affaires.