Colombia Opens Embassy in Jerusalem, Becoming Tenth Country to Do So

Colombia opened its embassy in Jerusalem on 14 October, becoming the tenth country to locate its diplomatic mission in the city rather than Tel Aviv.

The ceremony was attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar. Sa’ar affixed a mezuzah at the entrance and called the day historical for bilateral relations and for Jerusalem. Bula Escobar said relations “should never have been broken” and described Israel as a strategic partner that would now be stronger. The embassy is located on Rabi Akiva Street in West Jerusalem.

The move reverses decisions taken by former President Gustavo Petro, who severed diplomatic ties in May 2024 over Israel’s military operations in Gaza, closed the Tel Aviv embassy, and later terminated the free-trade agreement. Petro also halted coal exports to Israel. Right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office in August 2026, had pledged during his campaign to restore relations and move the embassy. The free-trade agreement was formally reinstated on 13 October, the day before the embassy opening.

Sa’ar noted that the number of embassies in Jerusalem has doubled since he took office less than two years ago. The other countries with missions there are the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Fiji, Somaliland and Nauru. Most states continue to keep their embassies in Tel Aviv, reflecting the unresolved status of the city. The Palestinian Authority condemned Colombia’s decision as a violation of international resolutions on the status of Jerusalem.

The restoration of trade and diplomatic channels reopens a market for Colombian agricultural and industrial goods and for Israeli technology and security equipment. Colombia had been a significant coal supplier to Israel before the 2024 break. The political cost for de la Espriella is limited inside Colombia, where Petro’s left-leaning foreign policy was already under domestic pressure; the gain is a concrete signal of alignment with Israel and the United States on a high-visibility issue.

Jerusalem’s status remains the most sensitive element of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel claims the entire city as its capital; the Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. UN Security Council Resolution 478 declared Israel’s 1980 annexation of East Jerusalem “null and void.” Colombia’s decision does not change that legal landscape, but it adds one more state to the small group that has acted on the opposite premise. Further countries have indicated interest in similar moves, according to Israeli officials.