Colombia opens embassy in West Jerusalem under new president

Colombia opened its embassy in West Jerusalem on Wednesday, marking a significant diplomatic shift under the administration of new President Abelardo de la Espriella. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar were present at the ceremony to formalize the restored relations between the two nations.

The establishment of this mission makes Colombia the tenth country to place its embassy in Jerusalem. This joins a small group of states that recognize Israeli sovereignty over the contested city, while most countries maintain their diplomatic missions in Tel Aviv due to unresolved international legal status issues.

Palestinian officials swiftly condemned the opening, describing it as a violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. The Palestinian foreign ministry stated that the move attacks legitimate national rights and declared all such decisions null and void with no legal effect whatsoever.

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also criticized the decision, labeling it a breach of international law and international resolutions. These condemnations highlight ongoing diplomatic friction surrounding Jerusalem, which Israel claims as its undivided capital while Palestinians view occupied East Jerusalem as their future state capital.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the development during the ceremony, noting that negative consequences from the previous administration had been reversed. He thanked President Espriella for his determination to bring bilateral relations to an all-time high and signed the guest book at the new embassy location.

Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar described Israel as a strategic partner that would become even stronger under the new government. He stated that the two countries were taking a concrete step toward restoring diplomatic relations that should never have been broken in the first place.

This policy reversal follows the tenure of former President Gustavo Petro, who severed diplomatic ties with Israel in May 2024 over its war on Gaza. Petro had also suspended a free trade agreement, which the new administration reinstated on Tuesday as part of its broader effort to align with Israeli and US interests.