Colombia Inaugurates Jerusalem Embassy, Restoring Ties With Israel

The opening marks Colombia as the tenth country to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, doubling the number of embassies in the capital since Sa'ar took office less than two years ago. The new embassy is located in the historic Salameh Building on Rabbi Akiva Street, where Sa'ar and Escobar affixed a mezuzah at the entrance.

This diplomatic shift reverses the policies of former Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who had severed ties in May 2024 over military actions in Gaza. Following the election of President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office in August 2026, Colombia officially resumed relations, reinstated a bilateral free trade agreement, and appointed Tania Gilinski as the new ambassador to Israel, ending a three-year vacancy.

During the ceremony, Sa'ar praised the move as a major diplomatic achievement and a recognition of historical truth. Minister Escobar described Israel as a strategic partner, stating that diplomatic ties should never have been severed, and emphasized future cooperation in security, technology, and trade.