Colombia inaugurates embassy to Israel in Jerusalem

What the report says

Colombia has opened a new embassy to Israel in Jerusalem, a step that Al Jazeera reports marks a significant reversal in Bogotá’s policy under President Abelardo de la Espriella. The inauguration took place on Wednesday, October 14, with Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar attending the ceremony. Al Jazeera says the move follows the new administration’s decision to restore ties that were downgraded or cut under former President Gustavo Petro.

According to the report, Petro severed diplomatic relations with Israel in 2024 over the war in Gaza, and the current government has also restored a free trade agreement previously terminated by his administration. Bula Escobar said the two countries should not have broken relations and described the embassy opening as a step toward rebuilding diplomatic ties. Israeli officials welcomed the decision, while Colombian Ambassador Tania Gilinski said the relationship would continue with renewed strength.

The move makes Colombia the 10th country to place its embassy in Jerusalem, where most states still keep their missions in Tel Aviv. Palestinian officials and Jordan’s foreign ministry condemned the decision, calling it a violation of international law and resolutions. The issue remains highly sensitive because Jerusalem is one of the central unresolved questions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with competing claims over the city’s status.