Israel and Venezuela renew consular relations for first time since 2009

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his Venezuelan counterpart Félix Plasencia agree to renew consular relations between the two countries, according to Sa’ar.

The two countries have not had any sort of diplomatic relations since 2009.

Rounds of talks in recent weeks “resulted in an agreement to establish a coordination mechanism that will enable the provision of consular services to citizens of both countries,” says Sa’ar’s office.

The two countries also agree to continue cooperating in emergency response and recovery efforts after a deadly double earthquake in Venezuela in June.

Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with Israel under then-president Hugo Chávez, amid deteriorating relations between Chávez’s government and Israel.

But since Delcy Rodríguez was installed as the country’s president after the United States captured the previous leader, Nicolás Maduro, in January, officials have sharply changed their tone regarding the Jewish state.

Ties have also warmed since Israel sent humanitarian assistance following the earthquake. An Israeli aid delegation was dispatched to Venezuela, which provided professional assistance to the country’s emergency response and recovery efforts.