Israel is among US-aligned powers that rallied to Guaido after he declared himself Venezuela’s leader last month.
“PROPER TIME”
“I am very happy to report that the process of stabilizing relations with Israel is at its height,” Guaido told the mass-circulation Israel Hayom daily in an interview. A formal announcement on re-establishing 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 in Gaza, and fostered ties with the Palestinians as well as with Israel’s arch-foe Iran. Israeli leaders said Caracas’ posture was prompting a flight of Venezuelan Jews.
“This (Jewish) community is very active and prosperous, one which has contributed greatly to our society,” Guaido said in the interview.
Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10 when President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition. Tensions rose when opposition leader Guaido declared himself acting president on Jan. 23, a move which was supported by the US and many European and Latin American countries.