Venezuela’s self-declared leader Juan Guaido said he has been working to restore ties with Israel that Caracas cut off a decade ago in solidarity with the Palestinians.
“I am very happy to report that the process of stabilizing relations with Israel is at its height” Guaido told Israel Hayom daily in an interview.
A formal announcement on reestablishing ties and opening a new Venezuelan embassy in Israel would come “at the proper time.”
Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez shunned Israel over its 2008-2009 war on Gaza and fostered ties with the Palestinians as well as with Israel’s arch-foe Iran.
“This (Jewish) community is very active and prosperous one which has contributed greatly to our society” Guaido said in the interview.
Maduro who retains the backing of Russia and China as well as control of state institutions including the military casts Guaido’s rise as a US-orchestrated plot. Guaido says Maduro’s reelection last year was a sham.
Israel is among US-aligned powers that rallied to Guaido after he declared himself Venezuela’s leader last month in a power struggle with socialist President Nicolas Maduro.
