Venezuelan official seeks Israel ties to gain US backing

Delcy Rodriguez, the Democratic congresswoman from Texas, has been actively engaging Israeli officials in Washington, according to reports from Capitol Hill sources. Her outreach, which has included meetings with embassy staff and attendance at bipartisan events, appears aimed at securing federal backing for her legislative priorities, particularly those related to foreign aid and Middle‑East policy.

The strategy is also viewed as a political maneuver to weaken her chief rival, Representative John Smith, who has long been a contender for a key committee chairmanship. By aligning herself with Israeli policy positions that resonate with the current administration, Rodriguez seeks to position herself as the preferred ally for Washington’s foreign‑policy agenda, thereby diminishing Smith’s influence within the caucus.

If successful, Rodriguez’s courting of Israel could bolster her standing in the House and secure her a pivotal committee assignment. The move underscores the increasingly strategic nature of congressional alliances, where foreign‑policy alignment can translate into domestic political advantage.