Israel and Venezuela announced Tuesday they have renewed consular relations after a 17-year diplomatic freeze, following talks between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia. The agreement establishes a coordination mechanism allowing both countries to provide consular services to their citizens, though it stops short of fully restoring diplomatic ties, according to Al Jazeera.

Venezuela severed relations with Israel in 2009 under Hugo Chávez in response to Israeli military operations in Gaza. The thaw comes after Israel sent an aid and disaster-response delegation to Venezuela in June following twin earthquakes that killed thousands, a gesture that appears to have opened the door to renewed contact, per the South China Morning Post.

A CHANGED CARACAS

The shift follows a dramatic reordering of Venezuelan politics: the United States moved to topple former president Nicolás Maduro in a January military operation, and interim President Delcy Rodríguez has been governing under sustained pressure from the Trump administration. Analysts say Caracas's outreach to Israel reflects an effort to rebuild international relationships as the new government seeks broader legitimacy and economic support.

The renewed consular mechanism will allow both governments to process passports, visas and other citizen services that have been unavailable for nearly two decades, according to the Jerusalem Post. Officials from both countries described the agreement as a first step rather than a full normalization of relations.

Neither government has laid out a timeline for reopening embassies or exchanging ambassadors. Regional diplomats say further steps will likely depend on how Venezuela's political transition unfolds in the coming months.