Venezuela and Israel agree to restore consular services after 17-year diplomatic break

Agreement announced

Venezuela and Israel announced on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, that they had agreed to establish a coordination mechanism enabling consular services for citizens of both countries. The joint statement, published by Venezuela's foreign ministry, does not provide for the full restoration of diplomatic relations. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar confirmed the agreement on X, using the phrase "resumption of consular relations between Israel and Venezuela," which went further than the Venezuelan communiqué, which avoided the word "resumption."

The talks were conducted over recent weeks between Sa'ar and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia, who replaced Yván Gil just weeks earlier. Gil had maintained a hard line against Israel in multilateral forums for two and a half years. Plasencia, experienced in discreet negotiations with Washington, produced the agreement in his first days in office.

Earthquake as catalyst

The rapprochement followed Israel's deployment of a humanitarian delegation to Venezuela after twin earthquakes struck on June 24, 2026. The delegation included civil engineers and at least one senior Israel Defense Forces officer, Elad Edri, who advised on managing structural debris. The Venezuelan Jewish community facilitated logistics, and interim President Delcy Rodríguez publicly thanked Israel for the assistance. The earthquakes killed more than 6,000 people. Venezuela updated the death toll on Monday, August 10.

The joint statement said both countries agreed to "continue bilateral technical cooperation derived from the emergency and recovery efforts" following the earthquakes. It also stressed "the importance of the bond between the State of Israel and the Jewish community residing in Venezuela, which constitutes an important historical bridge of friendship between the two countries." According to the World Jewish Congress, approximately 6,000 Jews live in Venezuela.

Political realignment

The agreement comes amid a broader geopolitical shift since the United States captured former President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, previously Maduro's vice president, has moved Venezuela away from the anti-American posture of the Chávez era and toward alignment with Washington. Venezuela has also distanced itself from Cuba and from Iran, which had been a close partner under Chávez and Maduro, particularly in the oil sector.

In July, Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, citing alleged bias against the Global South, a position consistent with the Trump administration's adversarial approach to the tribunal. Sa'ar described the consular agreement as "more good news from South America." Last week, Chile and Honduras restored their ambassadors to Israel.

Seventeen-year rupture

Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with Israel in January 2009 on orders from then-President Hugo Chávez, one week after expelling the Israeli ambassador from Caracas. The decision came in response to Israel's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, a military offensive that lasted approximately 22 days and killed an estimated 1,300 people in Gaza and 13 Israelis. Bolivia also broke relations with Israel around the same time.

Under Chávez and Maduro, Venezuela maintained strong criticism of Israel and support for Palestine. In June 2010, Chávez appeared on state television after the Israeli assault on the Freedom Flotilla.

May you be damned, State of Israel! May you be damned, terrorist and murderer!

In June 2025, Diosdado Cabello called Israel a "rabid dog" and celebrated Iranian attacks on the country. On Sunday, August 9, Plasencia met with Grand Rabbi Isaac Cohen of the Venezuelan Israelite Association, who had requested the restoration of diplomatic and consular relations to "meet the needs of the Jewish community" in Venezuela.