Germans, Austrians, US helped release Israeli businessman from Venezuela — Israeli official

The Israeli-Argentinian man released from prison in Venezuela and returned to Israel earlier today was in the country pursuing business ventures, a senior government official says.

Yaakov Harari, 72, left Israel in the spring of 2024 for business trips in South America, including Venezuela, says the official during a briefing with Israeli reporters.

Harari was told that he had been convicted in absentia and sentenced to 25 years in prison for terrorism and sabotage. Harari told Israeli officials upon his return that he witnessed “severe scenes” in the Venezuelan prison.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assigned Harari’s case to his hostage pointman, Gal Hirsch, who worked with the Foreign Ministry, the Mossad and other government agencies. They managed to secure a consular visit through Germany’s ambassador in Venezuela.

Israel also worked through the US State Department and the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, as well as the Austrian hostage envoy and the Red Cross. Hirsch also maintained regular contact with the local Jewish community on the case.

The situation changed dramatically with the US arrest of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, says the official. Israel began an intensive effort to find ways to get Harari out.

Israel coordinated these efforts with other governments with prisoners in Venezuelan prisons and who have been working with Israel on the hostage issues since October 7, 2023 — the US, UK, Canada, Germany and Austria — and held a situational assessment with them on January 7.

Israel found out Harari was to be released at 2 a.m. on Monday.

He was handed over to the community rabbi in Caracas before being transferred to another country, which the official declined to identify. He then departed that country on a flight to Israel.