“I’m almost in tears at this event marking the restoration of relations with Israel, which should never have been severed,” Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar said Wednesday. Speaking at a reception at Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Bula Escobar announced that Colombia was officially withdrawing from the Hague Group, a coalition of nations seeking legal, diplomatic, and economic measures against Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza.
The embassy opening on October 14, 2026, makes Colombia the tenth country to establish its diplomatic mission in Jerusalem. The move marks a dramatic foreign policy reversal under President Abelardo de la Espriella, who assumed office in August after defeating the political camp of former President Gustavo Petro. Petro had severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2024 and closed the Colombian embassy in Tel Aviv, heavily criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over military actions in Gaza.
Administration Reinstates Bilateral Free Trade Agreement
De la Espriella’s administration has dismantled several pillars of the previous government’s foreign policy. Alongside the embassy relocation to Jerusalem, Bogotá reinstated a bilateral free trade agreement that Petro had terminated. During the inauguration ceremony, Bula Escobar described Israel as a strategic partner and called the embassy opening a concrete step toward repairing ties.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed the shift during the event, stating that the new administration had reversed most of the negative consequences of the Petro era in just two months. Sa’ar signed the embassy guest book and described the inauguration as a recognition of the political fact that Jerusalem remains Israel’s capital. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also welcomed the restored relations, recalling his previous visits to Latin America and expressing a desire to deepen cooperation in agriculture, innovation, and artificial intelligence.
Regional and International Reactions to the Jerusalem Move
The inauguration drew swift opposition from regional authorities. Palestinian officials condemned the move as a violation of international legitimacy resolutions that undermines the international consensus on the legal status of the city. Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs similarly criticized the relocation as a breach of international law.
The status of Jerusalem remains one of the core unresolved disputes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Israel claims the united city as its capital, Palestinians view East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Most nations maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv, and only a small group of countries—including the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Fiji, Somaliland, and Nauru—have established embassies in Jerusalem.
Meetings With Hostage Survivors and Condemnation of October 7
During his visit, the Colombian foreign minister delivered an emotional condemnation of the October 7 Hamas massacre, calling the attackers despicable murderers from a culture of death. Bula Escobar recounted a meeting on Tuesday with Elkana Bohbot, a former Hamas hostage who survived captivity in Gaza, stating that he presented Bohbot with a Colombian passport.
Colombian Ambassador to Israel Tania Gilinski and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion also attended the embassy reception alongside members of the diplomatic corps.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Embassy Relocation
Which countries have embassies in Jerusalem?
Colombia became the tenth country to open its embassy in Jerusalem, joining the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Fiji, Somaliland, and Nauru.
When did Colombia previously sever ties with Israel?
Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro broke diplomatic relations in 2024 over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, closed the embassy in Tel Aviv, and terminated a bilateral free trade agreement.
What is the Hague Group?
The Hague Group is a coalition of nations that organized diplomatic, legal, and economic measures against Israel. Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar announced his country’s withdrawal from the group during his visit to Jerusalem.