3 weeks ago
Venezuela and Israel resume consular services after 17-year break
Venezuela and Israel are two countries that had a big disagreement a long time ago.
Seventeen years ago, Venezuela stopped talking to Israel.
Now the two countries have decided to be friends again and will help each other's citizens who live in their countries.
A group from Israel came to Venezuela to help after big earthquakes there in June.
The leaders of both countries talked and made this deal.
Venezuela has a new leader now, named Delcy Rodriguez.
Before, the president was Nicolas Maduro, but he was captured by the United States in January.
Venezuela is now closer to the United States and further away from Iran, which used to be its friend.
Both governments said the relationship between Israel and the Jewish community in Venezuela is an important bridge of friendship.
This is a big change in how Venezuela relates to other countries.
Venezuela and Israel agreed on Tuesday to re-establish consular services in each country.
The agreement ends a 17-year diplomatic break dating to 2009, when Venezuela cut ties over Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
The deal followed a visit by an Israeli humanitarian delegation to Venezuela after deadly earthquakes in June.
Venezuela, led by Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, has strengthened ties with Washington since the U.S. captured President Nicolas Maduro in January.
The move shifts Venezuela away from Iran, its historic oil-producing ally, which condemned Washington's intervention in Caracas.
- Who
- Venezuela, under Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, and Israel
- What
- Agreed to re-establish consular services in each country, ending a 17-year diplomatic break
- Where
- Venezuela and Israel, announced from Caracas
- When
- Tuesday, August 11, 2026
- Why
- Following an Israeli humanitarian delegation's visit after deadly June earthquakes, and Venezuela's shift toward Washington after the U.S. captured President Nicolas Maduro
Historic Iran alliance
New Washington alignment
Resuming relations with Israel
Historic Iran alliance
Venezuela had cut ties with Israel in 2009 over Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, and Iran condemned Washington's intervention in Caracas.
New Washington alignment
Venezuela and Israel say the relationship between Israel and the Jewish community in Venezuela is an important historic bridge of friendship between the two countries.
Geopolitical alignment
Historic Iran alliance
Venezuela historically aligned with Iran, a fellow global oil producer that had similarly suffered under years of U.S. sanctions.
New Washington alignment
Venezuela has strengthened ties with Israel-allied Washington since the U.S. captured President Nicolas Maduro, pushing it away from its historic alignment with Iran.
Key facts
- Governments involved
- Venezuela and Israel
- Diplomatic break
- Ties cut in 2009 over Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip (17 years)
- Venezuelan leadership
- Interim President Delcy Rodriguez
- Announcement
- Tuesday, August 11, from Caracas
- Catalyst
- Israeli humanitarian delegation visit after deadly earthquakes in June
- President Maduro's status
- Captured by the United States in January
- Former ally
- Iran, fellow oil producer, which condemned Washington's intervention in Caracas
- Joint statement
- Both governments recognize the importance of ties between Israel and Venezuela's Jewish community
Sources
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