Machado Meets FM Sa’ar, Calls for Resumption of Venezuelan–Israeli Ties

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met on Tuesday with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado to discuss Venezuela’s political future and the potential restoration of diplomatic relations with Israel. The meeting highlights growing diplomatic engagement as Venezuela edges toward political change following years of authoritarian rule.

Sa’ar praised Machado as “a courageous woman” whose struggle for democracy has inspired many, and expressed his hope that Venezuelans will soon be able to choose their leadership in free elections after long repression under the Maduro and Chávez regimes.

Machado, who has won international recognition for her advocacy of democratic transition, thanked Sa’ar for the conversation and said Venezuela is already moving toward democracy. She said her country could become a “reliable and stable partner” for democracies, offering opportunities for investment and cooperation. Machado emphasized that re‑integrating Venezuela into the democratic world would help build alliances in the face of security challenges.

The discussion also touched directly on restoring Israel–Venezuela ties, severed in 2009 when the Venezuelan government broke relations and recognized the State of Palestine. Machado reaffirmed her commitment to renewing these historic ties, saying Israel and Venezuela had “shared very close relations” that she hopes can be strengthened in a new era of freedom.

The meeting comes as broader diplomatic relations between the United States and Venezuela improve, and as opposition leaders prepare for a democratic transition. Machado is among the candidates seeking to lead Venezuela amid calls for free elections.

Israel’s engagement with Venezuela reflects a wider effort to rebuild ties across Latin America, a region where mutual cooperation has grown recently and where democratic transitions could open new opportunities for economic, political, and cultural exchange.

While formal diplomatic relations have yet to be restored, Tuesday’s meeting signals a possible turning point, with both sides expressing optimism about renewed partnership and collaboration.

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