“We will renew ties with Israel and move our embassy to Jerusalem.” Her remarks are drawing attention as Venezuela’s relations with Israel were severed under Hugo Chávez and remained hostile under Nicolás Maduro.

Machado, an industrial engineer by training, was awarded the prestigious prize for her “unyielding struggle for democratic rights in Venezuela and her pursuit of a peaceful and just transition from dictatorship to democracy,” according to the Oslo-based Nobel Committee. A fierce critic of Maduro, she was banned from running in recent elections but continues to lead the opposition movement.

In her past interview with Channel 14’s Lital Shemesh, Machado declared: “I promise that one day there will be close relations between Venezuela and Israel. I can announce that our government will move the embassy to Jerusalem. It will be part of our support for the State of Israel.”