On Monday, Venezuela and the Palestinian Authority established formal diplomatic relations and announced the opening of a Palestinian embassy in Caracas. Mérida, April 29th 2009 (Venezuelanalysis.com) — On Monday, Venezuela and the Palestinian Authority established formal diplomatic relations and announced the opening of a Palestinian embassy in Caracas. Venezuelan Foreign Relations Minister Nicolás Maduro and his Palestinian colleague Riyad Al-Malki met in Caracas and pledged their countries' mutual solidarity. "We are taking a step toward justice by establishing official relations with the Palestinian National Authority, with the Palestinian state," Maduro said after signing the official documents before the National Assembly. "The Bolivarian government of the Commander-in-Chief Hugo Chávez feels the Palestinian people's cause as its own."