Colombia to Restore Ties With Israel and Open Embassy in Jerusalem

Overview

• A transition communiqué announced Thursday that an understanding sealed between Omar Bula Escobar and Israel's foreign minister Gideon Saar calls for immediate ambassadorial exchanges, reciprocal visa elimination, progress toward a Colombian embassy in Jerusalem, and withdrawal of Colombia's support for the ICJ case against Israel.
• The commitments are policy positions of president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella that require formal acts after he takes office in August and could be delayed or altered by legal limits and a minority position in the new Congress.
• The move reverses measures taken under President Gustavo Petro in 2024–25, when Colombia cut relations with Israel, backed South Africa's ICJ complaint, expelled Israeli diplomats, and suspended the bilateral free-trade agreement.
• Israel publicly welcomed the rapprochement and its foreign minister said ties will soon be stronger, a shift that signals closer alignment with Israel and warmer relations with Washington.
• Because Jerusalem's status is disputed and South Africa remains the ICJ applicant, opening an embassy there reduces Colombia's participation in multilateral pressure on Israel but does not end the legal case and could complicate Colombia's relations with Palestinians and other partners.