Perhaps no one, aside from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was more giddy about U.S. President Donald Trump’s attack on Venezuela than the Israelis.
Israel congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on Jan. 3 for his successful operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar declared that the United States “acted as the leader of the free world,” while expressing hope that Israel and Venezuela can reestablish ties, reported the Times of Israel. “At this historic moment, Israel stands alongside the freedom-loving Venezuelan people, who have suffered under Maduro’s illegal tyranny,” Sa’ar said hours later in a statement. “Israel welcomes the removal of the dictator who led a network of drugs and terror and hopes for the return of democracy to the country and for friendly relations between the states…. The people of Venezuela deserve to exercise their democratic rights. South America deserves a future free from the axis of terror and drugs.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also implied support for the operation, congratulating Trump on X for his “bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice.” The Times of Israel noted that Netanyahu conspicuously omitted any mention of Venezuela, Maduro or the actual operation.
