Colombia opens embassy in Jerusalem after restoring ties with Israel
Colombia opened an embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday after its new leader restored ties with Israel, AP and Al Jazeera reported. The last leader had cut those ties in 2024 over the war in Gaza, AP said. Palestinian leaders and Jordan both spoke out against the move, Al Jazeera said.
Colombia opened an embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Oct. 14, marking a major shift in relations with Israel after conservative President Abelardo de la Espriella restored diplomatic ties cut by his predecessor, The Associated Press and Al Jazeera reported.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar opened the embassy at a ceremony, Al Jazeera reported. Sa'ar called it "a day of celebration for Israel-Colombia relations, and for Jerusalem, our capital," AP reported. "This is an important date for the State of Israel. It's also an important date for the city of Jerusalem," Sa'ar said while signing the Colombian embassy's guest book, according to Al Jazeera. The opening made Colombia the 10th country with an embassy in Jerusalem, Al Jazeera reported.
Bula said relations between the two countries "should never have been broken" and called Israel "a strategic partner," Al Jazeera reported. "This embassy is a visible expression of our determination to restore dialogue," Bula said, according to AP. De la Espriella has also restored a free trade agreement with Israel that his predecessor had ended, Al Jazeera reported. Colombia named Tania Gilinski Bacal as its ambassador in early October, AP reported.
Former President Gustavo Petro cut ties with Israel in 2024, accusing it of genocide over its military operations in Gaza, which Israel rejected, AP reported. The Palestinian Authority called the embassy opening "a violation of international legitimacy resolutions," and Jordan's Foreign Ministry called it a "violation of international law," Al Jazeera reported. On Friday, the foreign ministers of 19 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan, issued a joint statement calling any step to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital "null and void" and urging Colombia to reverse its decision, according to the statement posted by Turkey's Foreign Ministry.
Most countries keep their embassies in Tel Aviv, saying the final status of Jerusalem should be settled in negotiations, AP reported. Palestinians claim east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in 1967, as the capital of a future state, while Israel considers the whole city its capital, AP reported.
What we know: Colombia opened its embassy in Jerusalem on Oct. 14 after restoring ties with Israel, AP and Al Jazeera reported.
What we don't: Whether Colombia will respond to the 19-country call to reverse the move, or whether other countries in the region will follow.
Where outlets agree AP and Al Jazeera both report that Colombia opened an embassy in Jerusalem on Oct. 14 after restoring diplomatic ties with Israel.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.