Colombia opens Israel embassy in Jerusalem

Colombia officially opened its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on Wednesday, joining a small group of countries that keep their Israeli embassies in the contested city rather than Tel Aviv.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the opening at a ceremony. Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula called the move “a concrete step toward the restoration of our diplomatic relations.”

Colombia's president, Abelardo de la Espriella, announced in July that he would move the embassy to Jerusalem. His predecessor, Gustavo Petro, severed ties with Israel in 2024 over its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Most countries keep their embassies to Israel in Tel Aviv, saying Jerusalem's status should be settled in a final resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel occupied east Jerusalem and annexed it in 1967, a move not recognised by most of the international community.

The United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term. AFP listed Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Nauru among the countries that have followed, with Kosovo and Somaliland also opening what they regard as embassies in the city.