Jerusalem, Oct 14 (IANS) Colombia inaugurated its Embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday as its new President Abelardo de la Espriella moved to restore full diplomatic relations with Israel, reversing his predecessor’s decision to sever ties over Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The ceremony was attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his Colombian counterpart, Omar Bula Escobar.
Under de la Espriella, the two countries reached an agreement on July 15 to restore full diplomatic and economic relations, which took effect after the new Colombian president took office in August. On Tuesday, Colombia and Israel formally reinstated their Free Trade Agreement.
In May 2024, then-Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that Colombia would sever its ties with Israel, accusing its government of committing genocide in Gaza, an allegation Israel rejects, Xinhua news agency reported.
In October 2025, after Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla and detained two Colombian nationals, Petro expelled Israel’s remaining diplomats and terminated the free trade agreement between the two countries.
Colombia’s Embassy, previously located in Tel Aviv, is the 10th foreign Embassy in Jerusalem.
The Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
The United States recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017 and relocated the US Embassy in Israel to the city in May 2018.
As the city’s status remains disputed, most countries maintain diplomatic relations with Israel but keep their Embassies in Tel Aviv or elsewhere.
Last month, Israel had ordered the closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem in retaliation for sweeping sanctions imposed by the UK on goods originating from “illegal” Israeli settlements, further deepening an already bitter diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had announced the retaliatory measures on September 9 after UK Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband described violent activity by Jewish settlers in the West Bank as “ethnic cleansing”.
The measures announced by Israel include the closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem and entry bans on several British MPs.
The British Consulate, located in the Sheikh Jarrah area of Jerusalem, deals primarily with Palestinian-related issues in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The UK’s Ambassador to Israel is based separately at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Israel maintains that Jerusalem is its “undivided capital” and rejects the characterisation of its control over the city as an occupation.
“United Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and is under its full sovereignty,” Sa’ar said, adding, “Any foreign activity in the area must be conducted through accepted and agreed channels and without violating Israel’s sovereignty.”
–IANS
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