Colombia Opens Embassy in Jerusalem, Marking 10th Foreign Mission in City

Colombia officially inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday in a festive ceremony attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and his visiting Colombian counterpart, Omar Bolivar Escobar. The opening signifies a substantial step in renewing diplomatic relations between the two nations. During the event, the embassy's sign was unveiled, and Minister Sa'ar affixed a mezuzah to the entrance.

This marks the tenth embassy to open in Jerusalem, a significant increase from the five that were operational when Sa'ar took office approximately two years ago. "This is the tenth embassy to open in Jerusalem," Sa'ar stated at the ceremony. "When I took office less than two years ago, there were only five. This is both an important milestone and a major diplomatic achievement."

Sa'ar recalled a promise made by Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella before his election: "If I am elected President of the Republic, I will immediately move Colombia's embassy to Jerusalem." Sa'ar emphasized that "the promise has been fully kept."

The Foreign Minister further commented, "Establishing the embassy in Jerusalem is not just a recognition of the simple political fact that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It is also a recognition of the historical truth that no decent person can deny."

Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bolivar Escobar stated, "Today we are taking a tangible step to renew our diplomatic relations, 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."

The embassy's opening follows a series of significant diplomatic actions between the countries. In August, an agreement for mutual visa exemption was signed, taking effect in September, allowing citizens of both nations to visit without requiring a visa. More recently, Colombia became the second country globally, after the United States, to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a recognition achieved following Sa'ar's visit to Colombia and his meeting with the country's president.

Israel has also provided humanitarian aid to Colombia during crises. The Israeli Foreign Ministry's national aid agency has conducted training and implemented systems in Colombia in the energy sector over the years. Following the ceremony, Minister Sa'ar hosted his Colombian counterpart for a political meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. Colombia will be the third Pacific island nation to open an embassy in Jerusalem, following Papua New Guinea in 2023 and Fiji in 2025. The Israeli government has approved a policy to support and assist foreign countries in establishing or relocating their embassies to Jerusalem, including financial aid and planning solutions.