Colombia Opens Embassy in Jerusalem; Ministry Plans Festive Event

Colombia is set to inaugurate its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, marking the tenth foreign embassy in the city. The embassy will be located on Rehov Rabbi Akiva in central Jerusalem. The inauguration ceremony will be attended by Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar, who is visiting Israel for the occasion, and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.

Minister Escobar arrived in Israel on Tuesday and was welcomed by Vivian Aisen, Israel's Ambassador to Colombia, who expressed her pleasure at hosting him and anticipated his visit would strengthen bilateral ties. The Israeli Foreign Ministry is funding the rental of the embassy premises, a common practice to encourage countries to establish their embassies in Jerusalem.

In the evening, the Foreign Ministry will host a celebratory event in the style of a Latin carnival to mark the embassy's opening. The event will include both foreign ministers, mayors, business figures active in Colombia, foreign diplomats, and other guests. The ministry has unusually hired an external production company for the event, at a cost of tens of thousands of shekels, a move that has drawn some skepticism from within the ministry regarding potential cost savings.

Sources within the ministry stated the event would be particularly festive, with the external company hired to manage its production. While the ministry typically handles such events internally, this instance involved an external firm at a significant cost. The ministry did not disclose the exact amount paid to the production company but claimed the move would reduce overall vendor costs, a claim questioned by some ministry officials.

The Foreign Ministry defended the decision, stating it is leading a "dramatic diplomatic initiative" to strengthen Israel's standing in Latin America. The opening of Colombia's embassy, the tenth in Jerusalem, is seen as part of a broader effort to encourage more countries to move their embassies to the city. The ministry also expressed gratitude to Colombia, under President Abelardo de la Espriella, for its "brave friendship" with Israel, contrasting it with the previous administration.

In response to inquiries, the ministry stated that it "occasionally utilizes advisory and production services as needed and based on professional considerations." They added that engaging a professional and experienced consultant helps streamline administrative aspects and reduce vendor costs. The ministry reiterated its proactive approach to promoting the relocation of embassies to Jerusalem, Israel's capital, and assisting countries that choose to do so.