America News Agency

Israeli Foreign Minister Saar met with Venezuela's elected president, Edmundo Gonzalez, and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

Congratulating Gonzalez on his impressive election victory, Saar said: "I expressed my hope that the legitimate and just struggle of Venezuelan citizens for freedom and democracy will soon come to an end, and that Gonzalez will be able to return to his country as president."

Saar added that he joins the global calls for the current leader, Maduro, an ally of the Ayatollah regime in Iran, to respect the will of the people as expressed in the election results.

"I invited the elected president to visit Israel and emphasized Israel’s hope for the full restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries with the return of democracy to Venezuela. Long live free Venezuela!"