Venezuela restores ties with Israel after 17-year rift - Sarmad

The Venezuelan government announced on Tuesday that it had reached an agreement with Israel to launch a coordination mechanism aimed at facilitating the provision of consular services between the two countries, marking a dramatic shift in bilateral relations after a 17-year diplomatic rift.

Venezuela had severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 following the Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip.

In a joint statement, both sides emphasized “the importance of the relationship between Israel and the Jewish community residing in Venezuela.”

They also agreed to continue bilateral technical cooperation stemming from joint emergency response and reconstruction efforts following two earthquakes, which Venezuela has reported have claimed more than 6,300 lives, as search operations for those trapped under the rubble continue.

The agreement came about two months after Israel dispatched a delegation to assist with disaster response in Venezuela, following two devastating earthquakes that killed thousands.