The Israeli ambassador to Venezuela has been recalled due to the "unilateral position" taken by Caracas with regard to ongoing clashes in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israeli Foreign Ministry reported.

"We have decided to recall our ambassador for consultations due to the unilateral position of the Caracas Government on the Middle East and because Venezuela resolved to get closer to extremist elements in the region, such as the Iranian president, who day and night claims that Israel should disappear," Spokesman Mark Regev told AFP.

According to Regev, Israel does not appreciate it that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has taken sides with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who called for destruction of the Jewish state, Reuters noted.

President Hugo Chávez was "filled with dismay by the shelling on the Lebanese people and the Palestinian people" and announced last August 4th his decision to recall the Venezuelan ambassador to Israel.