Colombia Will Renew Ties With Israel and Move Its Embassy to Jerusalem
Under its previous leftist regime, headed by a former Marxist guerrilla, Gustavo Petro, Colombia turned resolutely against the Jewish state. It supported South Africa’s attempt at the International Court of Justice to have Israel found guilty of “genocide.” It cut off diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. It voted against Israel at the UN. It recognized the state of “Palestine.” But the left lost the election in June to the conservative candidate. And now that incoming government promises to embrace the country its predecessor shunned. More on this reversal of fortune can be found here:
Colombia to Withdraw Support for South Africa’s ICJ Genocide Case Against Israel as Ties with Jerusalem Are Restored
by Ailin Vilches Arguello, Algemeiner, July 17, 2026:
Colombia’s incoming government has pledged to withdraw the country’s support for South Africa’s contentious genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as Bogotá moves to restore diplomatic ties with Jerusalem and deepen bilateral cooperation.
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the office of Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella — who won last month’s runoff and is due to take office on Aug. 7 — said his administration would “return to a responsible position in the international arena,” including by ending the country’s involvement in the ICJ proceedings once he assumes office.
The announcement followed a meeting in Washington on Wednesday between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Colombia’s incoming foreign minister, Omar Bula, where the two sides agreed to fully restore diplomatic and economic ties, exchange ambassadors, and scrap mutual visa requirements after years of strained relations.
Colombia’s incoming administration also intends to open an embassy in Jerusalem — a move recognizing the city as Israel’s capital — according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, marking a significant shift in Bogotá’s foreign policy toward the Jewish state.
Saar wrote that he and Bula had “outlined a detailed roadmap for the full and immediate restoration of diplomatic and economic relations between our two countries.”
Historically, Colombia has been among Israel’s closest partners in Latin America, maintaining strong security, economic, and diplomatic cooperation for decades. Relations deteriorated sharply under outgoing leftist President Gustavo Petro, who filed a declaration of intervention in South Africa’s case in April 2024 and severed diplomatic ties with Israel the following month over the war in Gaza.
Since Dec. 2023, South Africa has pursued its case at the ICJ, accusing Israel of committing “state-led genocide” in its war against Hamas in Gaza….
Israel has strongly rejected all allegations of genocide, calling South Africa’s case “baseless” and “politically motivated.”
Let’s say it again, ad nauseam: “Genocide” requires “intent.” The IDF has ever shown the intent to deliberately mass murder Gazans. The IDF has made tremendous efforts, by dropping millions oof leaflets, sending millions of text messages, and making millions of robocalls, to war civilians away from sites about to be targeted. It is Hamas that, by embedding its fighters and weapons in with Gazan civilians, increases the number of their casualties. As John Spencer, a West Point professor of urban warfare, has said, “Israel has implemented more precautionary measures to prevent civilian casualties in urban combat than any military in history.”
Just as soon as the newly-elected government in Colombia takes power, everything connected to Israel will change. Historically, Colombia always had good relations with Israel. But under the previous president, the left-wing Gustavo Petro (a former FARC guerilla), all that changed. Diplomatic relations with Israel were cut. Colombia consistently voted at the U.N. to condemn the Jewish state. Colombia supported South Africa’s attempt at the International Court of Justice to have Israel found guilty of “genocide.” And finally, Gustavo Petro’s regime recognized the state of “Palestine.”
The new Colombian President, Abelardo de la Espriella, has already announced that his government will immediately restore diplomatic relations with Israel and re-establish bilateral agreements on trade, technology, and security. It will withdraw its previous support of South Africa’s attempt to have Israel condemned at the ICJ. It will cease to vote against Israel at the UN. But most satisfying of all, Colombia’s next foreign minister, Omar Bola Escobar, in a meeting on July 15 with Israel’s foreign secretary, Gideon Sa’ar, has pledged that his government will move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the ninth country to do so. That followed a declaration by President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella that Colombia would establish relations “like never before” with Israel once he takes the oath of office on August 7. Colombia is an important country; with 54 million people, it is the second-most populous Spanish-speaking country. This return to sanity in Bogotá is a big win for Israel.
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