Venezuela and Israel have agreed to restore consular relations, in a major shift. That has included thawing ties with Israel, after Caracas severed ties 17 years ago in light of Israeli attacks on Gaza. Under Maduro, Venezuela had remained staunchly opposed to Israel, while aligning with regional foe Iran. In a statement on X, Felix Plasencia Gonzalez, Venezuela’s minister of foreign relations, said the decision to restore consular ties came after Israel deployed a team to Venezuela after twin earthquakes devastated the South American country. Israel saw its ties with several countries in Latin America deeply strained amid its genocidal war in Gaza, but the election of several right-wing candidates has seen a renewed push across the region to restore relations.