Venezuela's leftist president, Nicolas Maduro, expressed his country's backing for the Palestinian "cause" as he welcomed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Caracas on Monday.
Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza and Venezuelan officials were also on hand as Abbas reviewed a Venezuelan honor guard.
Abbas was re-elected as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's Executive Committee last week, as the veteran leader sought to renew his legitimacy while installing loyalists who he hopes will eventually continue his legacy.
Over the years, Venezuela has created a mixed energy initiative with the Palestinian Authority. And in recent years, Arreaza and his Palestinian counterpart, Riad Malki, have spearheaded mining and agriculture agreements.
Venezuela and the PLO have enjoyed strong ties since Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez, rose to power. Venezuela formally opened an embassy for the Palestinians in 2009.
"Venezuela decisively and actively supports the cause of Palestine to be free, independent and sovereign in peace in all realms of the world, and we reject all decisions on the contrary by the United States government, which wants to take Jerusalem back from history, an illegal decision that is not recognized by United Nations mandates," Maduro said Monday, referring to President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. Embassy there.
Abbas told reporters, "I would like to emphasize Venezuela's position, which rejects the announcement by the U.S. administration to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and its relocation of its embassy there. It's a position that most countries have made. We reaffirm our interest in having serious negotiations with Israel based on the international resolutions and laws and the importance of forming an international multilateral instrument and to continue working so that Palestine is accepted as a full country in United Nations."
