Interim President Delcy Rodríguez requested FM Gideon Sa'ar to extend the Israeli rescue delegation's stay, and PM Benjamin Netanyahu approved, according to the president's office. Rodríguez asked that the team remain to help implement the national rehabilitation plan formulated by Israeli experts. The request is notable as diplomatic relations between Israel and Venezuela have been severed since 2009.
The president's office in Venezuela clarified earlier today (Wed 12:37 Jerusalem) that the request for the Israeli rescue delegation to extend its stay was specifically aimed at having the team assist in implementing the national rehabilitation plan drafted by Israeli experts. This follows the approval by PM Netanyahu and FM Sa'ar, reported at 10:46 Jerusalem, of a two-week extension.
The Zioneer first reported the delegation's presence in Venezuela at 07:53 Jerusalem, after the president met with the team despite no diplomatic ties. By 07:53, the Foreign Ministry announced the extension, and within minutes, PM Netanyahu and FM Sa'ar officially approved it. The source quality evolved from a single N12 report (Amit Segal) to an official Foreign Ministry statement, and then to confirmation from the president's office regarding the rehabilitation plan.
The humanitarian mission, comprising Home Front Command and Foreign Ministry personnel, was deployed after the severe earthquake that struck Venezuela last week. As The Zioneer reported on June 30, FM Sa'ar announced the delegation despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations since 2009, made possible by the political changes after the fall of the Maduro regime. The delegation's work has been a rare point of direct contact between the two governments.
No further details have been provided on the scope of the rehabilitation plan or the exact duration of the extension beyond the two weeks.
4 developments
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Source and signal
- Internal intake