Venezuela resumes consular services with Israel

Venezuela and Israel have resumed consular services, marking a step towards normalizing relations severed since 2009, according to the Venezuelan foreign ministry. Diplomatic ties between the two nations were broken in January 2009 when then-president Hugo Chavez expelled the Israeli ambassador following an Israeli military offensive in Gaza.

Despite this, Israel provided aid and rescue workers after a series of devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. The rapprochement is under the interim government of Delcy Rodriguez, who has faced pressure from Washington. The two countries agreed to continue bilateral technical cooperation from the earthquake recovery efforts and establish a coordination mechanism for providing consular services.

Venezuelan Jewish Association chief rabbi Isaac Cohen called for the restoration of diplomatic relations to address the needs of the Jewish community in Venezuela, where about 6,000 Jews reside. The World Jewish Congress reported this figure. Both Chavez and his successor Maduro had expressed rejection of Israel, considering Palestine a legitimate state.

Venezuela has strengthened ties with Iran, particularly under Chavez and Maduro, with oil deals amid US sanctions and blockades against both countries. On July 24, around 100 Maduro supporters protested against the rapprochement, burning US and Israeli flags.