Colombia’s embassy in Jerusalem opened Wednesday in a high-profile ceremony, capping a foreign policy reversal by President Abelardo de la Espriella. Colombia becomes the tenth country to operate an embassy in the capital. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his Colombian counterpart Omar Bahía Escobar, who traveled to Israel specifically for the event, attended the ceremony. The opening comes about two months after its originally scheduled date of August 7, de la Espriella’s inauguration day.
1+In an interview with The Jerusalem Post last week, Sa’ar said that when he took office, five embassies operated in Jerusalem, and with the Colombian embassy’s opening, the number will reach ten. Sa’ar also said Israel has reached agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo to open an 11th embassy in the city. Today’s opening is part of an understanding between Sa’ar, de la Espriella, and Bahía under which relations between the countries will be fully restored following their entry into office in August.
During Sa’ar’s visit to Colombia for the new president’s inauguration, Colombia recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and agreed to withdraw from South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The countries also eliminated mutual visa requirements. The government approved the appointment of Vivian Eisen as Israel’s ambassador to Colombia.
1+Former President Gustavo Petro unilaterally severed ties with Israel in May 2024 over the Gaza war and banned coal exports to Israel. Since June of that year, no ambassadors have served in either capital. During his tenure, Petro also advanced opening a Colombian embassy in ‘Palestine,’ but de la Espriella announced the cancellation of that move after his election.