Israel welcomed an agreement with Venezuela to establish a coordination mechanism that will allow citizens of both countries to receive consular services and assistance abroad. The arrangement resulted from talks held in recent weeks between Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia, and marks the first official channel of communication between the two governments since 2009. However, full diplomatic relations have not yet been restored: this would require an exchange of ambassadors. The break occurred 17 years ago, when President Hugo Chávez expelled the Israeli ambassador amid the conflict in the Gaza Strip and unilaterally severed ties with Israel in support of the Palestinians; under Nicolás Maduro, the distance between the countries remained. The new agreement will once again allow Venezuelans and Israelis to use official channels to obtain documents and assistance, while Israel said it intends to continue strengthening ties with Latin American countries.
Full version: Israel Welcomes Agreement to Restore Consular Services with Venezuela