International: April 8, 2009

No Ties, Chavez Vows  

DOHA — Venezuela’s president said he has no plans to resume ties with Israel in the wake of its military incursion in Gaza. Hugo Chavez told Al-Jazeera March 29 that he would not consider resuming diplomatic relations until Israel reconsiders its “genocidal attitude.”  Chavez also reaffirmed his close relationship with Iran. He expelled the Israeli delegation in January to protest Israel’s Gaza operation.

Wiesel Collects Funds

LOSANGELES — An e-mail campaign to help Elie Wiesel’s foundation in the wake of the Bernard Madoff scandal has raised $400,000. Wiesel, the Nobel Prize-winning author, lost more than $7 million of his own fortune, and his foundation took a $15.2-million hit in the Ponzi scheme. In recent months, small and large donations totalling $400,000 have flowed into the Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, which funds after-school centres in Israel, conferences and humanitarian awards, the Conde Nast Portfolio business magazine’s website said. Some of the money went directly to Wiesel and his wife, Marion, but the couple gave everything to the foundation.