Israeli Delegation Meets Venezuelan President Amid Earthquake Relief Efforts

An Israeli delegation arrived in Venezuela following a devastating earthquake to provide aid and met with Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday. The delegation included officers from the Israeli Home Front Command wearing IDF uniforms. Venezuela severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 after Operation Cast Lead and has since been considered hostile, largely due to its relations with Iran. Rodriguez, who succeeded Nicolas Maduro after his arrest by the U.S., appears to be signaling a potential shift in relations.

The Israeli team, comprising 28 members including eight engineers from the Home Front Command and Foreign Ministry representatives, is working alongside Venezuelan officials on a long-term national reconstruction plan. This plan involves assessing nearly 1,300 buildings for repair or demolition, removing debris, and preparing cleared areas for new construction, primarily in Caracas and the surrounding regions affected by the earthquake.

Rodriguez expressed gratitude for the Israeli delegation's expertise, highlighting the role of the Venezuelan Jewish community and Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Cohen in facilitating the cooperation. She requested the delegation extend their stay, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved for an additional two weeks after a conversation between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Rodriguez.

The delegation's arrival marked a diplomatic breakthrough, including the first phone call in years between Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil and Israeli envoy Yoed Magen. The earthquake, which struck about two weeks ago with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, is the worst in Venezuela in over a century. Official death toll stands at 2,295, with unofficial estimates of over 38,000 missing. Rescue efforts continue despite diminishing chances of finding survivors, with a notable rescue of a 43-year-old man eight days after the disaster.