Israel and Venezuela have agreed to restore consular relations, marking the first formal diplomatic contact between the two countries since ties were severed 17 years ago. The breakthrough came following discussions between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and his Venezuelan counterpart, Felix Plasencia.
Over recent weeks, the two foreign ministers negotiated the establishment of an official coordination mechanism that will enable both countries to provide consular services to their respective citizens. While this development stops short of full diplomatic normalization, it represents the first formal communication channel between Jerusalem and Caracas since 2009. Through this new framework, both nations will be able to address consular matters affecting their citizens despite the absence of full diplomatic relations.
