Venezuela and Israel have agreed to resume consular services and continue technical cooperation, marking a possible step toward restoring ties after more than 17 years of strained relations.
The agreement was announced by Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday following talks between officials from the two countries.
The two sides agreed to create a mechanism to provide consular services and continue technical cooperation linked to recovery efforts after Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes in June.
Venezuela and Israel cut diplomatic relations in January 2009, when then-President Hugo Chavez expelled Israel’s ambassador in protest against Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
Despite the diplomatic break, Israel sent humanitarian aid and rescue teams to Venezuela after two major earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, struck the country in June.
The latest move comes under Venezuela’s interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez, who took power after the United States captured former President Nicolas Maduro in January.
Her government is facing pressure from Washington as it seeks to manage the country’s political transition.
Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia said the two countries had agreed to maintain cooperation related to emergency response and reconstruction following the earthquakes.
They also agreed to set up a coordination mechanism for consular services.
The development came shortly after Plasencia met Isaac Cohen, chief rabbi of the Venezuelan Jewish Association.
Cohen has called for the restoration of diplomatic ties to help address the needs of Venezuela’s Jewish community.
Around 6,000 Jews live in Venezuela, according to the World Jewish Congress.
Relations between Caracas and Tel Aviv had remained hostile for years under Chavez and his successor, Maduro. Both governments strongly supported Palestine and criticised Israel.
Venezuela also developed close relations with Iran under Chavez and Maduro, including cooperation in the oil sector despite US sanctions on both countries.
The latest rapprochement has faced opposition from some supporters of Maduro.
On July 24, around 100 Maduro supporters protested against closer ties between Caracas and Washington and burned US and Israeli flags.
-(22)-20260805184343.jpeg)
