JERUSALEM — Colombia opened its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, becoming the 10th country to do so, as new President Abelardo de la Espriella reversed his predecessor’s break with Israel and restored a free-trade agreement, Reuters reported via Al-Monitor and The Jerusalem Post.
Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar cut a ribbon beside Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. “Today, we are taking a concrete step towards restoring diplomatic relations between our countries, relations that should never have been broken,” Escobar said. Saar called the move recognition that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital and “a historical truth.”
Most countries keep embassies to Israel in Tel Aviv. Israel regards Jerusalem as its capital; Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro broke relations in May 2024 over Israel’s Gaza campaign, closed the Tel Aviv embassy and recalled Colombia’s ambassador — a step Israel called antisemitic. De la Espriella, a right-winger who took office in August, reinstated the free-trade pact on Tuesday, Al-Monitor (Reuters) reported.
Countries that have moved embassies to Jerusalem since the United States did so in 2018 include Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay and Somaliland, Israel’s Foreign Ministry noted. Saar and Escobar were also due to hold bilateral talks Wednesday.
Sources: Al-Monitor (Reuters), The Jerusalem Post
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