After 17 years of severed diplomatic relations, Venezuela and Israel have announced a formal agreement to restore consular services. The move marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two nations, which had been frozen since 2009 when then-President Hugo Chavez broke ties with Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the development on the social media platform X, confirming that the two countries have established a coordination mechanism. This framework is intended to facilitate the provision of consular services for citizens of both Israel and Venezuela. While the restoration of consular services represents a notable thaw in relations, the full extent of future diplomatic cooperation remains to be seen.

Al Jazeera reports that this shift in alignment follows recent internal political developments in Venezuela, specifically referencing the "Maduro abduction" as a catalyst for the change in foreign policy. In contrast, Middle East Eye focuses on the timeline of the diplomatic freeze, noting that the break in relations lasted 17 years. The two outlets agree on the core fact that a coordination mechanism has been established, though they offer different context regarding the motivations behind the policy shift.