Colombia formally inaugurated its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on Wednesday, making it one of a limited number of countries to locate its embassy in the city. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar attended the opening and signed the embassy’s guest book, describing the occasion as an important day for both Israel and Jerusalem.
A notable diplomatic move
The inauguration places Colombia among the small group of countries that have their embassies to Israel in Jerusalem. Most countries maintain their embassies to Israel elsewhere, rather than in the city. Colombia’s decision therefore marks a notable change in where it conducts its official diplomatic representation to Israel.
The move also carries significance because locating an embassy in Jerusalem is understood as support for Israel’s sovereignty over the city. Colombia’s new diplomatic presence makes that position visible through the location of its embassy, as well as through the formal inauguration.
The opening was reported on Wednesday. The available reports identify the event as a formal inauguration, rather than simply an announcement of plans to establish an embassy. The ceremony marks the start of Colombia’s embassy operating from Jerusalem, although the reports do not provide further details about its staffing or services.
Israeli foreign minister welcomes opening
Saar’s participation offered a public welcome from Israel’s foreign ministry. He signed the Colombian embassy’s guest book during the occasion and called the opening an important day for Israel and Jerusalem. His remarks underscored the importance Israeli officials attach to Colombia’s decision to establish its embassy in the city.
The reports do not describe additional remarks from Colombian officials or provide details about the process leading up to the inauguration. They also do not specify the embassy’s address, the names of its diplomatic staff or whether any other official agreements were announced at the event.
Colombia’s move stands out against the practice of most countries, which keep their embassies to Israel outside Jerusalem. By opening its mission there, Colombia has joined a limited set of states whose embassy locations reflect support for Israel’s sovereignty over the city. The inauguration brings that diplomatic choice into effect and gives the relationship a new official presence in Jerusalem.
