Delcy Rodríguez on Israel
TL;DR
Delcy Rodríguez strongly asserts that Israel and "Zionism" are involved in foreign operations targeting the Venezuelan government's legitimacy and structure.
Key Points
She asserted that the US military operation leading to President Nicolás Maduro's capture in January 2026 possessed “Zionist undertones.”
The government has a history of invoking “Zionism” to explain domestic crises, including protests following the 2024 presidential election.
Official diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Israel were formally severed in 2009 over Israel's conduct in Gaza.
Summary
The acting Venezuelan president, Delcy Rodríguez, has adopted a highly oppositional stance toward Israel, framing it as an antagonist in domestic and international crises. Following the January 2026 military operation that led to President Nicolás Maduro's capture, Rodríguez publicly claimed the action possessed undeniable “Zionist undertones.” She characterized this event, which she positioned as foreign aggression against the Bolivarian Republic, as an attack she considered “truly shameful.” This rhetoric aligns with the government's established pattern of invoking Israel and Zionism to deflect internal blame and consolidate support during political upheaval.
This strategy of blaming Israel for political crises is not new for the Chavista leadership, as the president had previously accused “international Zionism” following election protests in 2024 and in November 2025. The official severing of diplomatic ties occurred in 2009 under the former president, who cited Israel's conduct during a Gaza offensive that year. Although Rodríguez has recently adopted a more cautious diplomatic tone regarding Middle East escalation, her characterization of foreign interference, particularly after Maduro's detention, explicitly targets Zionist influence, reinforcing a long-standing government narrative.
Key Quotes
...without a doubt, Zionist in character
Frequently Asked Questions
Delcy Rodríguez maintains a profoundly negative and adversarial position toward Israel, frequently invoking "Zionism" as a force behind perceived foreign interference. She publicly accused Israel of having "Zionist undertones" in the US-led operation that detained President Maduro in 2026. This framing aligns with the government's practice of using such rhetoric to explain domestic political setbacks.
Her core adversarial narrative has remained consistent, as the government has long utilized anti-Zionist rhetoric against perceived Western opposition. However, following the political shift in January 2026, she reportedly adopted a more cautious tone, focusing on general calls for diplomacy rather than explicitly condemning the US and Israel in specific regional escalations.
The acting president stated that the US operation which resulted in the capture of President Maduro "undoubtedly has Zionist undertones." She demanded the immediate release of the president, labeling the action a shameful attack against Venezuela. This statement utilized familiar government talking points about Zionist interference during a period of high political instability.
Sources6
Venezuelan VP: US attack capturing Maduro has 'Zionist undertones'
'Zionist attack:' Venezuela's acting gov't blames Israel for Maduro seizure
Venezuela's acting president says 'Zionist undertones' marked US capture of Maduro
Why Venezuela's Jews are optimistic about their country's future — even as the government promotes anti-Israel conspiracies
Delcy Rodríguez avoids pointing out the U.S. and Israel and calls for urgent negotiations in the Middle East
Will Oil Finally Reconcile Venezuela and Israel?
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.