Israel Sends Quake-Relief Team to Venezuela

An Israeli aid and disaster-response delegation departed for quake-struck Venezuela Tuesday under Foreign Ministry and IDF Home Front Command auspices, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties since 2009. The official Israeli notice says the team includes Home Front Command engineering professionals and Foreign Ministry representatives; Ambassador Yoed Magen leads the Foreign Ministry component and Brig. Gen. Elad Edri commands the military component. The death toll is above 1,700, with reports citing at least 1,943. Gideon Sa'ar framed the mission as humanitarian, a reminder that Israel shows up for disaster victims even where politics are frozen.