Colombia opens embassy in Jerusalem, tenth in Israel’s capital; free trade agreement reinstated

Colombia inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, becoming the tenth country to open an embassy in Israel’s capital as the two nations work to restore diplomatic ties.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his Colombian counterpart, Omar Bula Escobar, attended the ceremony. Escobar arrived in Israel on Tuesday for the occasion. During the inauguration, the embassy’s sign was unveiled and Sa’ar affixed a mezuzah to the entrance.

“This is a day of celebration for Israel-Colombia relations, but it is also a day of celebration for Jerusalem, the capital,” Sa’ar said.

“This is the tenth embassy to open in Jerusalem. When I assumed office less than two years ago, there were only five. This is both an important milestone and a major diplomatic achievement,” he added.

Sa’ar recalled that Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella had pledged long before his election: “If I am elected President of the Republic, I will immediately move the Colombian Embassy to Jerusalem.”

“That promise has been fully kept,” Sa’ar said.

He described the move as significant beyond its political implications. “Establishing the embassy in Jerusalem is not merely a recognition of the simple political fact that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It is also a recognition of a historical truth that no decent person could deny.”

Escobar called the opening a concrete step toward restoring relations.

“Today, we are taking a tangible step toward renewing diplomatic relations between us—relations that should never have been severed. Israel is a strategic partner—it always has been, and from now on, it will be even more so,” he said.

The inauguration followed Tuesday’s exchange of diplomatic notes reinstating the countries’ free trade agreement, reversing the previous Colombian president’s decision to cancel it. The step followed understandings reached by Sa’ar and Escobar at a July 15 meeting in Washington.

Sa’ar said the rapprochement had advanced rapidly.

“Within just two months, we have reversed most of the negative consequences of the Petro administration’s tenure on Israel-Colombia relations and have even blazed new trails. I thank my friend, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, for his determination to steer Israel-Colombia relations to an all-time high, and I am convinced that together, we will indeed achieve this.”

Following the ceremony, Sa’ar was scheduled to host Escobar for diplomatic talks at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.