Venezuela agrees with Israel to establish consular services after 17-year diplomatic break
Isaac Cohen says restored diplomatic ties would better serve Venezuela’s Jewish community after Israeli disaster-response teams assisted following the June earthquakes.
- On Sunday, Chief Rabbi Isaac Cohen of the Israelite Association of Venezuela delivered a letter to interim President Delcy Rodríguez, formally requesting restoration of diplomatic and consular relations with Israel.
- Diplomatic ties were severed in 2009 under then-President Hugo Chávez, who cited Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip, beginning years of hostility that followed.
- Israel recently dispatched humanitarian specialists to Venezuela following two earthquakes on June 24, 2026, marking the most significant formal contact between the two nations since 2009.
- Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia González and Israeli counterparts agreed to establish an official coordination mechanism and renew consular services for citizens in each country.
- Rodríguez has not announced whether she will accept the request for full diplomatic restoration, though the proposal aims to address practical consular needs for Jewish Venezuelans.
79 Articles
79 Articles
Caracas. The governments of Venezuela and Israel yesterday agreed to reactivate consular services after 17 years of breaking diplomatic relations.
Venezuela, Israel reestablish relations
The interim regime of Venezuela and the government of the State of Israel formally announced the re-establishment of institutional channels of communication and the beginning of a bilateral cooperation agenda. The decision puts an end to almost two decades of a unilateral diplomatic break for Chavismo since 2009, when Caracas consolidated close alliances with political actors and militias in the Middle East, especially with Iran. According to th…
The Media Line: Israel, Venezuela Renew Official Ties After 17-Year Diplomatic Freeze By The Media Line Staff Israel and Venezuela agreed to restore consular relations and establish a formal channel for coordination, reopening direct ties between the countries after a 17-year freeze and following cooperation in the aftermath of Venezuela’s deadly June earthquakes. The agreement followed discussions between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia. Under the arrangement, Israel and Venezuela will create a mechanism through which their citizens can receive essential consular services. The two governments also agreed to continue technical cooperation in emergency response, engineering and recovery efforts. Contacts between the countries expanded after more than 50 Israeli specialists traveled to Venezuela following the double earthquake in June. The delegation included representatives of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command and the National Emergency Management Authority. During the mission, Israeli personnel assisted with rescue operations and assessments of damaged structures. They also helped map destruction and presented Venezuelan authorities with a framework for rebuilding national infrastructure. The diplomatic opening comes under acting President Delcy Rodríguez, whose government has taken a more pragmatic approach to foreign relations following a political and leadership transition. The statement on renewed consular ties also addressed Israel’s connection with Venezuela’s Jewish community, describing the community as an important link in the countries’ longstanding friendship. Venezuela cut diplomatic relations with Israel in January 2009 under then-President Hugo Chávez in response to Israeli military operations in Gaza. Relations remained suspended under Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela maintained close ties with Iran and participated in platforms hostile to Israel. The resumption of consular contacts does not amount to the full restoration of diplomatic relations, but establishes an official mechanism for direct cooperation after 17 years without formal ties. The development follows renewed relations between Israel and Colombia under its new president. Colombia also recently recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. - Regional Media News
Israel, Venezuela Renew Official Ties After 17-Year Diplomatic Freeze By The Media Line Staff Israel and Venezuela agreed to restore consular relations and establish a formal channel for coordination, reopening direct ties between the countries after a 17-year freeze and following cooperation in the aftermath of Venezuela's deadly June earthquakes. The agreement followed discussions between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Venezuelan Fo…
Venezuela Moves Toward Renewed Ties With “Israel” Amid Chavista Criticism
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—After weeks of speculation and mounting criticism from leftist organizations in Venezuela and abroad, the Venezuelan government announced Tuesday the establishment of a mechanism to provide consular services with the Zionist entity of “Israel,” a step that could precede the eventual restoration of formal diplomatic relations. The controversial decision was announced by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry on social media.…
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