Israel and Colombia Restore Ties, With Colombia Set to Open an Embassy in Jerusalem

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced on Wednesday evening that Israel and Colombia had reached an agreement to restore diplomatic relations, more than two years after they were severed. The understandings were reached at a meeting Sa'ar held in Washington with Colombia's foreign minister-designate, Omar Bula Escobar, at which it was agreed that ties between the two countries would be fully normalised immediately after the inauguration of Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, scheduled for 7 August.

Under the agreement, Israel and Colombia will fully restore diplomatic and economic relations and will exchange ambassadors immediately. The two sides also agreed to a mutual waiver of visa requirements, as part of a broader effort to deepen cooperation and renew formal ties.

In the course of the meeting, Colombia's foreign minister-designate announced that his government intends to open an embassy in Jerusalem. In parallel, Israel's Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem is already preparing to appoint a new ambassador to Bogotá, with the selection expected as early as next week.

The restoration of ties follows a prolonged diplomatic rupture between the two countries. Colombia's outgoing president, Gustavo Petro, announced in May 2024 that he was unilaterally severing relations with Israel. Israel's ambassador was recalled about a month later, and Colombia's ambassador to Israel departed the country in June of that year.