JERUSALEM, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Colombia inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday as its new president Abelardo de la Espriella moved to restore full diplomatic relations with Israel, reversing his predecessor's decision to sever ties over Israel's military operations in Gaza.
The ceremony was attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and his Colombian counterpart, Omar Bula Escobar.
Under de la Espriella, the two countries reached an agreement on July 15 to restore full diplomatic and economic relations, which took effect after the new Colombian president took office in August. On Tuesday, Colombia and Israel formally reinstated their free trade agreement.
In May 2024, then-Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that Colombia would sever its ties with Israel, accusing its government of committing genocide in Gaza, an allegation Israel rejects.
In October 2025, after Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla and detained two Colombian nationals, Petro expelled Israel's remaining diplomats and terminated the free trade agreement between the two countries.
Colombia's embassy, previously located in Tel Aviv, is the tenth foreign embassy in Jerusalem.
The Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. Israel annexed East Jerusalem after the 1967 Middle East war and declared the whole city as its "eternal and indivisible capital" in 1980.
The United Nations Security Council declared the move "null and void" in Resolution 478 in 1980, stating that it violates international law and does not alter the status of East Jerusalem as occupied territory under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017 and relocated the U.S. embassy in Israel to the city in May 2018.
As the city's status remains disputed, most countries maintain diplomatic relations with Israel but keep their embassies in Tel Aviv or elsewhere. ■
