Venezuela's UN envoy apologises to Israel over 'final solution' remarks

United Nations: Venezuela's UN ambassador has apologized to Israel's envoy over remarks suggesting that Israel was seeking a "final solution" for the Palestinians, a UN spokesman has said.

Ambassador Rafael Ramirez made the remarks yesterday during a Security Council informal meeting on Friday on the protection of Palestinians.

Ramirez, a former foreign minister, told senior UN official Edmond Mulet during a meeting on Wednesday that he regretted the "language" that he used, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

He told Mulet, who is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's chief of staff, that he had "personally apologized" to Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon, he said.

Ramirez stressed that "he stands against any form of anti-Semitism and fully respects the millions of victims of the Holocaust," Dujarric said.

The "final solution" refers to the Nazi plan to exterminate Jews during World War II.

One of the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council, Venezuela has been a strong supporter of Palestinian rights at the United Nations.