Colombia inaugurated its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, becoming the 10th country to place its diplomatic mission in the contested city — and marking a sharp reversal from former president Gustavo Petro, who severed ties with Israel in 2024 over the war in Gaza. The move drew swift condemnation from the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, and a warm welcome from Israel's foreign minister.
Colombia Embassy Jerusalem: What Happened on October 14
The inauguration ceremony on Wednesday formalized what Colombia's new government had been signaling for weeks: a full reset of relations with Israel. Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar told the ceremony that relations between the two countries "should never have been broken" and that Bogotá was taking "a concrete step towards restoring diplomatic relations," Al Jazeera reported.
"Israel is a strategic partner. It always has been, and from now on, it will be an even stronger one," Bula Escobar said. Colombian Ambassador Tania Gilinski echoed the line, saying Israel had always been a "strategic partner" and would remain so "with even greater determination and strength."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar attended, calling it "an important date for the State of Israel" and "an important date for the city of Jerusalem" as he signed the embassy's guest book.
Why De la Espriella Reversed Petro's Israel Break
The contrast with the previous administration could hardly be starker. Left-wing president Gustavo Petro cut diplomatic relations with Israel in May 2024 over its military campaign in Gaza, and terminated the two countries' free trade agreement. De la Espriella, inaugurated in August 2026, has now undone both: the embassy opening follows his restoration of the trade deal.
The shift fits a broader regional pattern. Across Latin America, right-leaning governments have been repositioning toward Washington and its allies — and de la Espriella's Colombia is moving decisively in that direction. The embassy move also comes as Israel faces mounting international pressure over Gaza, where Al Jazeera reported more than 74,000 people have been killed in three years of attacks.
Which Countries Have Embassies in Jerusalem?
Colombia is now the 10th country with an embassy in Jerusalem. Most of the world keeps its missions in Tel Aviv, treating Jerusalem's final status as something to be settled in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The countries that broke ranks:
- United States — moved its embassy from Tel Aviv in 2018 under President Donald Trump, the first and most consequential relocation.
- Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Nauru — the small, largely US-aligned states that followed Washington's lead.
- Kosovo and Somaliland — not UN member states, but both maintain what they consider embassies in Jerusalem.
- Colombia — the newest addition, and the first major Latin American economy to make the move.
Israel claims the undivided city as its capital; Palestinians claim occupied East Jerusalem — seized and annexed by Israel in 1967 in a move unrecognized by most of the international community — as the capital of a future state. That dispute is why the embassy question carries such weight.
Reaction: Condemnation and Welcome
The Palestinian Authority condemned the move as "a violation of international legitimacy resolutions" that undermines "the international consensus on the legal status of the holy city." Jordan's Foreign Ministry called it "a violation of international law and relevant international resolutions."
For Israel, though, the opening is a diplomatic win at a difficult moment. With international criticism of the Gaza campaign running high, each new embassy in Jerusalem reads in Israeli diplomacy as validation of its sovereignty claim over the city. Saar's presence at the ceremony — guest book and all — signaled how much weight Jerusalem puts on it.
Why It Matters
For the Middle East, Colombia's move won't change facts on the ground in Gaza — but it chips at the diplomatic consensus that has kept most embassies in Tel Aviv for decades. If a G20-adjacent economy like Colombia can make the switch with limited fallout, others may recalculate.
For Latin America, it's another marker of the region's rightward swing in foreign policy, with new governments trading Petro-era posturing for closer alignment with Washington and Jerusalem. And for the stalled question of Jerusalem's status, it's a reminder that while negotiators talk about final-status issues, facts keep getting created.
Key Takeaways
- Colombia opened its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on October 14, 2026 — the 10th country to do so.
- President Abelardo de la Espriella (sworn in August) reversed predecessor Gustavo Petro's 2024 severing of ties and restored the bilateral free trade agreement.
- Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar said ties "should never have been broken"; Israel's Gideon Saar called it "an important date."
- The Palestinian Authority condemned it as a "violation of international legitimacy resolutions"; Jordan called it a "violation of international law."
- Most countries keep embassies in Tel Aviv; the US move in 2018 opened the door that Colombia has now walked through.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When did Colombia open its embassy in Jerusalem?
Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Al Jazeera reported.
How many countries have embassies in Jerusalem?
Ten, with Colombia the newest. The others are the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Kosovo, and Somaliland. Nearly every other country keeps its embassy in Tel Aviv.
Why did Colombia move its embassy to Jerusalem?
New president Abelardo de la Espriella is reversing his predecessor's policies. Gustavo Petro severed ties with Israel in 2024 over the Gaza war; de la Espriella, sworn in August 2026, calls Israel a "strategic partner" and has restored both diplomatic relations and the bilateral free trade deal.
How did Palestinians react to the Colombia embassy move?
The Palestinian Authority condemned it as "a violation of international legitimacy resolutions" undermining "the international consensus on the legal status of the holy city." Jordan's Foreign Ministry called it "a violation of international law and relevant international resolutions."
Why is an embassy in Jerusalem controversial?
Israel claims undivided Jerusalem as its capital; Palestinians claim occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Most countries keep embassies in Tel Aviv precisely to avoid prejudging that final-status question — so each Jerusalem embassy is read as taking Israel's side.
Did Colombia restore its trade deal with Israel too?
Yes. De la Espriella restored the Israel–Colombia free trade agreement that Petro had terminated, alongside the embassy move — part of a full reset of the bilateral relationship, Al Jazeera reported.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: Colombia inaugurates embassy to Israel in Jerusalem
- Reuters: Colombia opens embassy in Jerusalem, restores free trade deal with Israel
- Times of Israel: Colombia opens embassy in Jerusalem, becoming tenth country to do so