Despite 17 years without diplomatic relations, an Israeli delegation received a remarkably warm welcome while helping Venezuela confront a national disaster.
Israel’s official aid delegation to earthquake-stricken Venezuela has been given an unusual mission: not to conduct rescue operations, but to develop a national plan for clearing ruins, demolishing unstable buildings and rebuilding devastated communities.
The Israeli team is headed by IDF Home Front Command Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Elad Edri and includes Israeli engineering and emergency-management experts. The earthquakes devastated coastal areas below Caracas, destroying entire neighborhoods and killing nearly 3,000 people, while hundreds remain missing.
“We received a mission unlike those given to previous Israeli delegations,” Edri told Israeli reporters. Following inspections and meetings with senior Venezuelan officials, the delegation proposed dramatically expanding its assistance by preparing a comprehensive national recovery program.