Colombia Opens Embassy in Jerusalem, Reversing Predecessor's Policy
The move marks a significant shift in relations with Israel after ties were severed over the Gaza conflict.
Colombia has opened an embassy in Jerusalem, signaling a major shift in its relationship with Israel and reversing a decision by its previous administration to sever diplomatic ties. The move follows the restoration of diplomatic relations by conservative President Abelardo de la Espriella.
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry described the embassy opening as a "diplomatic milestone." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called it "a day of celebration for Israel-Colombia relations, and for Jerusalem, our capital."
The two nations established diplomatic relations in 1957 and have historically maintained close security cooperation, with Colombia utilizing Israeli-made military equipment. However, former President Gustavo Petro severed ties with Israel in 2024, accusing the country of genocide for its military operations in the Gaza Strip and drawing parallels to Nazi concentration camps. Israel denied the accusations and condemned Petro's decision.
Following the severing of ties, Petro had announced plans to open an embassy in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, but this mission never materialized. The restoration of relations with Israel became a priority for de la Espriella's government after he assumed office.
Colombia appointed Tania Gilinski Bacal as its ambassador to Israel in early October. Her mandate includes strengthening trade ties and cooperation in security, intelligence, cybersecurity, and information sharing.
In 2017, the United States became the first country to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Since then, nine foreign governments, including several Latin American nations, have followed suit. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war, as the capital of a future state, while Israel considers the entire city to be its capital. The status of Jerusalem remains a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with competing claims to East Jerusalem frequently leading to violence.
Most countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv, with the position that the final status of Jerusalem should be determined through negotiations.