Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the Israeli government recognizes Venezuelan National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president of the country instead of Nicolas Maduro.
Netanyahu said in a statement, “Israel joins the United States, Canada, most of the countries of Latin America and countries in Europe in recognizing the new leadership in Venezuela.”
Guaido responded in a tweet, “Seventy-four years ago, the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated, and today, just as our country is also fighting for its freedom, we thank the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu for the recognition and the support.”
United States Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Assistant to the President and Special Relations Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt tweeted praise for Netanyahu’s decision:
Appreciation and kudos to the Government of Israel for standing with the people of Venezuela and the forces of freedom and democracy.https://t.co/jUcq4ZfEEA
— Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) January 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/jdgreenblatt45/status/1089563838691848199
Jerusalem Post senior contributing editor Lahav Harkov noted that a Jewish Venezuelan woman said in a radio interview how important Netanyahu’s endorsement of Guaido was to Venezuelans:
Jewish Venezuelan woman on GLZ said people in Caracas were more excited about Netanyahu recognizing Guaido than world leaders like Macron or May, because Iran is an ally of Maduro, so they see themselves as being on the same side as Israel.
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) January 28, 2019
This is especially interesting in light of the fact that Netanyahu waited several days to recognize Guaido as president of Venezuela, specifically out of concern that doing so could hurt the Jewish community.
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) January 28, 2019
Iran, Hezbollah and the Palestinian Authority are among those who are siding with Maduro.
