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Nobel Peace Prize winner hails 'Israel’s achievements' in war on Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
Today 00:35
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María Corina Machado’s reported call with Netanyahu draws criticism after she praised "Israel’s" war conduct, deepening doubts about her credibility as a Nobel Peace laureate.

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Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addresses a protest against President Nicolas Maduro the day before his inauguration for a third term in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP)

The former opposition presidential candidate in Venezuela and newly named Nobel Peace Prize laureate, María Corina Machado, expressed strong support for “Israel’s” actions in its war on Gaza, according to a statement released Friday by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The statement said that during a phone call, the US-backed Venezuelan opposition leader told Netanyahu she “greatly appreciates his decisions and decisive actions in the war, and Israel’s achievements.” She also reportedly said she was pleased that an agreement had been reached to secure the release of captives.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Machado voiced understanding for what she described as “Israel’s struggle against ‘the Iranian axis of evil,’” which she claimed was working against both “Israel” and the Venezuelan people.

Netanyahu, in turn, congratulated Machado on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, praising what he called her “work to promote democracy and world peace,” the statement added.

There has been no independent statement from Machado or her office confirming the call or its contents.

Birds of a feather

Earlier this week, in an interview with international media, Machado said she believed US President Donald Trump should be awarded next year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

The newly minted Nobel Peace Prize laureate appeared to be endorsing an occupation entity accused by international organizations of genocide. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced it received 45 martyrs' bodies, which the Israeli occupation had released.

It reported that 45 unidentified martyrs' bodies that the occupation had held were received, and these remains have not been added to the cumulative toll of martyrs, which has reached 67,938 killed and 170,169 injured since October 7, 2023.

Venezuela shuts Oslo embassy after Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize

Norway’s Foreign Ministry announced Monday that Venezuela has closed its embassy in Oslo, just days after Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. No official reason was provided for the sudden move.

“We have been informed by the embassy of Venezuela that it is shutting its doors and no reason has been given,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Cecilie Roang told AFP in an email. “It is regrettable. Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue open with Venezuela and will continue to work in this direction,” she added.

According to the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang, the Venezuelan embassy had stopped answering calls by Monday afternoon, and AFP later confirmed that its phone lines had been disconnected.

US-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize

Machado, one of Venezuela’s most prominent opposition figures, received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on October 10 for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” according to Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Machado, 58, has long been an outspoken critic of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election.

Why is it controversial?

In March 2024, Venezuela's Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, accused Machado of complicity in destabilizing actions against the Venezuelan state following her disqualification from the presidential election in July after being accused of corruption.

It is worth noting that the presidential elections were held in Venezuela on July 28, 2024, to choose a president for a six-year term beginning on January 10, 2025.

According to Saab, the opposition's plot was to incite an anti-state uprising by rallying "the masses using labor and student unions to incentivize a military wing."

Moreover, sharing an interview an Israeli media outlet made with Machado after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, RT highlighted how she "promised" unwavering support for "Israel" and to move the country's embassy to al-Quds, despite the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Further exposing cooperation between the two, RT took its audience back to 2018, exposing Machado's letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asking for his help, as well as "influence and strength" toward regime change in Venezuela.

The Russian news outlet mocked how she is "a truly worthy recipient."

Venezuelan court launches criminal probe into opposition post-election

In August, Venezuelan prosecutors launched a criminal investigation against two opposition leaders for reportedly mobilizing the army to side "with the people" following the July 28 presidential elections.

At the time, prosecutors revealed that charges had been raised against presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and Machado, which include "announcing a false winner," instigating disobedience, insurrection, and conspiracy.

The Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) said it provided the Supreme Court with the required and detailed documents needed to verify that President Nicolas Maduro won the elections.

"Everything requested by the republic's highest court has been submitted," CNE chairman Elvis Amoroso said.

In the same period, Venezuela's Supreme Court initiated an audit of the presidential election results and summoned all candidates for testimony, following calls from opposition activists and international supporters for a vote recount.

The audit was requested by President Nicolas Maduro, who filed a constitutional protection lawsuit with the Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, asserting electoral interference.

"[The court] has accepted, supported, and initiated an investigation and verification process in order to ultimately determine the results of the election," the statement released.

The court summoned all 10 presidential candidates to provide testimony before the Electoral Chamber on August 2.

Venezuela's opposition bears responsibility for the violent unrest

On August 24, Venezuelan prosecutors summoned opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez to testify about his involvement in the creation of a website used by Venezuela's far-right to spread false election results alleging that President Nicolas Maduro had been defeated.

"Citizen Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia" is summoned "on August 26 at 10 am for an interview," the prosecutors said.

At the time, the Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal investigation against Gonzalez and Machado to determine their roles in crimes related to the "usurpation" of authority, spreading false information to incite unrest, encouraging disobedience of the law, incitement to insurrection, criminal conspiracy, and related offenses.

In hearings before the Supreme Court’s Electoral Chamber, initiated by President Nicolas Maduro's challenge, the parties backing Gonzalez's candidacy admitted they lacked the evidence to verify their claims of electoral fraud.

Saab also underscored that Gonzalez and other far-right figures bear responsibility for the 27 deaths and 129 injuries that occurred during the violent unrest on July 29 and 30.

Wider context

Machado announced that the opposition views Gonzalez, the main rival to President Nicolas Maduro, as the winner of Venezuela's 2024 presidential election.

Elvis Amoroso, chairman of Venezuela's National Electoral Council, declared Maduro the winner of the election, citing that he secured 51.2% of the vote with 80% of the ballots counted.