Venezuela

Introduction

Venezuela purchased arms from israel in the 1990s and 2000s including aircrafts, missile-systems and rockets. In addition to that Venezuela purchased Israeli phone-data extraction systems.

Israel – Venezuela Relations

Venezuela (since 1999 the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) recognized Israel in 1948.  In 2009 it suspended relations because of Israel’s invasion of Gaza and has not resumed them since. The two countries do, however, maintain some trade. In 2019 Venezuela exported 4,377 thousand USD to Israel, receiving 1,040 thousand USD imports in return.[1]Trademap.org  Venezuela also traded with Israel as part of a Mercusor Israel Free Trade Agreement signed in 2007 [2]sice.oas, until 2017 when it was suspended from Mercusor.[3]Mercosur | Suspension de Venezuela

During Hugo Chavez’ Presidency (1999-2013) and continuing under Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela aligned itself with Palestine. Venezuela recognized and established diplomatic relations with Palestine in 2009 [4]Palestine UN diplomatic relations, and Palestine has an embassy in Caracas.[5]Palestine Embassy Caracas  Maduro has deepened the economic and other ties between the two entities.  This includes Petro-Palestina, created in 2014 to provide subsidized oil to Palestine [6]Counter Currents: Venezuela and Palestine, and a bi-national bank established in 2018 with an initial investment of 20 million Venezuelan Petros.[7]Venezuela Analysis

As a result of a disputed election in January 2019, many countries including Israel have recognized Juan Guaidó as the Acting President of Venezuela, although Maduro continues as President. Guaidó has announced that he will re-establish relations with Israel and place an embassy in Jerusalem.  However, elections for the legislative assembly, of which Guaidó is Acting President, will occur December 6, 2020, which will result in his losing his status effective January 5, 2021. [8]Israel Hayom : Venezuela ready to renew diplomatic relations with Israel/

Military Relations

From 1975 to 1997, Venezuela made a series of weapons purchases from Israel, most of which were aircraft, with some additional support equipment or weaponry.  In 1984, Venezuela also received delivery of 25 LAR-160 (light artillery rockets), followed by 250 MAPAT anti-tank missiles in 1990. [9]Sipri

In the beginning of the 2000’s Venezuela made several arms trade deals with Israel, including a $20m deal for Barak SAM systems, a deal for air search radars for frigates and a deal for Phyton missiles for F-16 fighter jets.[10]Sipri

In 2019 The government of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela approved the purchase of Cellebrite UFED Touch2 units for 51,300 Euros.[11]Urgent: Stop Cellebrite sales to Venezuela [12]millones euros petros modernizacion cicpc

Human Rights Violations

Cases of political prisoners and torture stain Venezuela’s recent human rights record, coming under intense criticism by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, international organizations such as Amnesty International and local human rights defenders.[13]Venezuela: Crimes against humanity require a vigorous response from the international justice system

Since the 1980s, human rights groups have consistently reported violations in the security and judicial sector of Venezuela.  These include arbitrary detention, excessive police force, torture, and killings, all by a combination of the police forces and by the National Guard. The overlapping jurisdiction of civilian and military systems creates a lack of clear accountability and transparency.   Exacerbating the problems are the overcrowded and abysmal conditions in the prisons, resulting in a high rate of murders– 40 times greater than the national average in 2003.   Substantial numbers of minors have been subject to arbitrary detention and even execution. [14]HRW [15]HRW Wold Report 2015

In 1994, the government suspended by decree six basic human rights. In the subsequent months, the security and military conducted a large number of housing raids, predominantly on those of the poor, social activists and popular or opposition leaders, resulting in extra-judicial incarcerations. [16]HRW Reports 1995   Constitutional protections were restored in 1999, and a new Criminal Procedure Code enacted. [17]HRW legacy, Americas

More recently In February 2014, military and police forces beat or fired lethal and “non-lethal” weapons against unarmed protesters and others, over 3300 of whom were detained and often abused.  Although numerous complaints of these human rights violations have been submitted, there have been few consequences.   Furthermore, government efforts to control the media have limited journalism as a way to uncover information in this or other cases that the government itself does not release.[18]HRW World Report 2015

The government of Nicolas Maduro has shown increasing interest in using digital means to control its citizens. In addition to increasingly pervasive internet censorship; It has endorsed well-documented cases of phishing against dissidents. Going as far as to manipulating internet traffic to help lure users into exposing their political activism.[19]Freedom House: The Global Drive to Control Big Tech [20]‘Venezuelans Are Starving for Information.’ The Battle to Get News in a Country in Chaos/ [21]Phishing by Venezuelan government puts activists and internet users at risk.