Updated: 11 августа, 2026 12:01 пп
Isaac Cohen, Chief Rabbi of the Venezuelan Israelite Association (AIV), has appealed to the country’s president, Delcy Rodríguez, requesting the restoration of diplomatic relations with Israel. The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported this.
Cohen presented the letter addressed to the head of state during a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Félix Plasencia González.
According to the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting discussed the needs of the country’s Jewish community and ways to resolve them.
The minister stated that Venezuela has historically welcomed a large Jewish community with open arms. According to him, the Jewish community’s contribution to the country’s development and the well-being of its people continues today.
He expressed gratitude for the aid provided by Israel following the two earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24.
Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Israel were severed in January 2009, during the rule of the country’s then-president Hugo Chávez. The reason was Israel’s military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
During the rule of Chávez, who died in 2013, and his successor Nicolás Maduro, relations between the two countries deteriorated further. Both leaders established close ties with Iran, repeatedly criticized Israel sharply, and concerns grew about the situation of the Jewish community in Venezuela during their rule.
During Chávez’s rule, facilities belonging to the Jewish community in the country were searched by the police several times. At the same time, the size of Venezuela’s Jewish population significantly decreased during the rule of Chávez and Maduro.
This situation changed in January 2026 following a US military operation. During the operation, Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were taken from Caracas to the US. They are accused of conspiring to import cocaine into US territory. Maduro and Flores deny the charges and are awaiting the start of the trial.
The new Venezuelan government led by Delcy Rodríguez, which includes representatives of the previous regime, has taken a more pragmatic position in foreign policy. The new authorities have taken steps toward restoring diplomatic and consular ties, particularly with the US.
The Venezuelan Jewish community’s call to restore diplomatic relations with Israel has brought back to the agenda the issue of ending the diplomatic hiatus between the two countries that has lasted since 2009.
Source: jns.org
