Chavez said during Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s visit to Venezuela on Friday, "It has become an arm of murder for the United States, no one can doubt about this  ... It is a threat to all of us." He added, "But one day the genocidal state of Israel will be put it its proper place.”

On the other hand, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad praised Chavez's strong criticism against the U.S. and Israel, commenting that “few politicians have enough courage to say no, when it is necessary to say no.”

Chavez is a harsh critic of Israel and the United States. He cut ties with Israel after its bloody attack on the Gaza Strip in 2009.