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Consular ties after 17 years
Israel and Venezuela agreed to restore consular relations and establish a coordination mechanism after 17 years without diplomatic ties, following talks between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia.
““The Governments of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the State of Israel report that they have agreed to continue bilateral technical cooperation”
Al Jazeera reported that the announcement came as interim President Delcy Rodriguez pursued a realignment after the United States military abduction of leader Nicolas Maduro in January, and it said Venezuela had severed ties 17 years earlier in light of Israeli attacks on Gaza.
The joint statement cited by Al Jazeera said the governments would “continue bilateral technical cooperation derived from the emergency and recovery efforts following the double earthquake” and “establish a coordination mechanism for the provision of consular services.”
Anadolu Ajansı said the agreement would “establish a coordination mechanism to provide consular services to citizens of both countries,” while also noting the move restores a limited official channel rather than full diplomatic relations, which were severed in 2009.
Voices welcome the shift
El Diario Venezuela said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed the agreement and described it as positive news, quoting him: "Another good news from South America: the resumption of the consular relations between Israel and Venezuela,".
El Diario Venezuela also said Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia confirmed the understanding and that it “also contemplates the continuation of bilateral technical cooperation arising from the response to the seismic emergency registered in Venezuela.”
El País framed the step as “a first step toward restoring diplomatic relations,” while stressing that it does not entail restoration of diplomatic ties that Hugo Chávez broke in 2009.
In the same El País account, Saar said the measure “creates an official channel of coordination between Israel and Venezuela” and presented it as another “diplomatic success” after Colombia’s new government recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Earthquake aid and next steps
Multiple outlets tied the consular rapprochement to Israel’s assistance after the June 24 double earthquake, with La Nación saying the agreement followed Israeli humanitarian assistance after the two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that occurred on June 24.
“after the two powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that occurred on June 24”
La Nación reported that the Israeli humanitarian delegation included structural engineers and disaster response experts, and it said the parties agreed to allow the continuation of bilateral technical cooperation arising from emergency and recovery efforts.
La Nación also cited AP data that the earthquakes left at least 6,301 dead, 16,740 injured, and 17,900 displaced due to the collapse of 190 buildings, and it said interim President Delcy Rodríguez publicly expressed thanks in July.
DW reported that the measure came after Israel sent a June delegation of help and response to Venezuela after two devastative earthquakes that left more than 6,000 deaths, while also stating that Israel and Venezuela “no mantienen relaciones diplomáticas desde 2009.”