Some eight years after full bilateral ties were severed, a thawing of relations may be in the offing between Venezuela and Israel. In 2009, then-President Hugo Chavez ordered the Israeli ambassador out of the country. Chavez, who was known for his tirades against Israel, the United States and the West, took the unusual move to protest Israel's actions in Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead. Israel retaliated by expelling the Venezuelan ambassador. After Chavez died in 2013 he was replaced by then-Vice President Nicolas Maduro. Shortly thereafter, Jerusalem started exploring the possibility of restoring ties. These efforts have recently been stepped up. "Nothing has been finalized yet," a source at the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. "Israel will consider renewing ties if Venezuela makes such an offer; but there is nothing concrete on the table," the source said. Venezuela voted in favor of the 1947 Partition Plan and the two nations established full diplomatic relations not long after Israel was founded in 1948. But after Chavez rose to power in 1999 he led a staunchly anti-Western foreign policy and forged closer ties with Syria, Jordan and even Iran. Chavez would also launch tirades against Israel in his speeches, including at U.N. events, where Venezuela would actively pursue an anti-Israeli agenda. In 2016, Venezuela's United Nations Ambassador Rafael Ramírez turned to his Israeli counterpart, Ambassador Danny Danon, and asked him whether Israel plans "a final solution" for the Palestinians. Ramirez eventually apologized after Danon convinced other countries to rebuke Ramirez.
Israel and Venezuela could see thaw in relations, ministry says
Jerusalem has recently stepped up efforts to renew ties with Caracas, Foreign Ministry says, but "nothing concrete" yet • Possible thaw comes eight years after Venezuela expelled Israeli diplomats and cut off relations over Operation Cast Lead.
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