Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar visited Majdal Shams on Wednesday, where he met with local authority leaders from across the Golan Heights and revealed that Israel is already looking to build on Colombia’s historic recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the strategic territory.
During the meeting, Sa’ar recounted his conversation with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella last Thursday in Barranquilla, during which the two agreed that Colombia would recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Sa’ar said he now intends to push additional countries to follow Colombia’s lead.
1+“Colombia is a large country. Israel is a small country without geographic depth. The October 7 massacre tragically demonstrated this,” Sa’ar recalled telling the Colombian president. “Defensible borders are critical to Israel’s security. The Golan Heights are critical to Israel’s security and existence.”
Sa’ar then invoked President Donald Trump’s landmark 2019 decision recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. “President Trump, in a courageous move, was the first leader to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” Sa’ar said he told de la Espriella. “You are a courageous leader. Please be the second leader in the world to do so.”
Local leaders thanked Sa’ar for his diplomatic efforts with Colombia and praised his contribution to advancing construction and Israeli communities throughout the Golan Heights. Golan Regional Council head Uri Kellner called Colombia’s decision a major diplomatic achievement. “In record time, Mr. Foreign Minister, you managed to bring about an incredible achievement for Israel,” Kellner said. “This is historic and moral recognition of our sovereignty in the Golan.”
1+Sa’ar also briefed the local leaders on condemnations issued by several Arab countries following Colombia’s decision and said he expects pressure against the move—and against countries considering similar recognition—to increase.
Majdal Shams Council head Dolan Abu Saleh thanked Sa’ar for both his visit and his diplomatic efforts with Colombia, as well as his contribution to developing the Golan Heights and supporting Israel’s Druze community. Also attending the meeting were Katzrin Council head Yehuda Dua, Mas’ade Council head Salman Batheesh and Buq’ata Council head William Abu Awad.
Colombia’s recognition leaves Israel with a new diplomatic opening: turning what began with Trump’s historic decision into a broader international push to recognize the Golan Heights as an inseparable part of Israel.