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Colombia and Israel have agreed to fully restore diplomatic and economic relations, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry, with Colombia's incoming government planning to open an embassy in Jerusalem. The agreement, announced following a meeting in Washington, is intended to reverse the rupture initiated by outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro in May 2024.

Coverage comparison

Both reports from The Jerusalem Post describe the agreement as a renewal of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The first article, dated July 16, 2026, focuses on the meeting between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Colombia’s incoming foreign minister, Omar Bula Escobar, and highlights the planned embassy in Jerusalem. The second article, dated July 19, 2026, emphasizes Colombia's withdrawal from the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice, adding details about a statement from the office of Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella.

Both accounts agree on the core elements: the exchange of ambassadors, the abolition of visa requirements for citizens of both countries, and Israel’s expansion of development assistance to Colombia through MASHAV, Israel’s international development cooperation agency.

Key claims

  • The two countries agreed to restore diplomatic and economic relations, reversing the rupture initiated by outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro in May 2024, as reported by both Jerusalem Post articles, which cite Israel's Foreign Ministry.
  • The two countries will exchange ambassadors, as stated by Israel's Foreign Ministry and reported by both articles.
  • Visa requirements for Israeli and Colombian citizens will be abolished, a detail confirmed in both reports.
  • Israel will expand development assistance to Colombia through MASHAV, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Colombia’s incoming government intends to open an embassy in Jerusalem, a statement made by Omar Bula Escobar and reported by the Jerusalem Post. The proposed embassy would represent a significant upgrade in relations and mark formal Colombian recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
  • Colombia will withdraw from the lawsuit South Africa filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice, as announced by the office of Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, and reported by the Jerusalem Post.
The statement from de la Espriella's office said Colombia would “return to a responsible position on the international stage, including in UN bodies, and will withdraw its involvement in the case filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.” It also criticized outgoing President Gustavo Petro's decision to “unilaterally sever the historic relations between Colombia and Israel,” adding that the new government will strengthen the relations between Jerusalem and Bogota again.

Perspectives

Colombian incoming government

Through the office of president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, the incoming government has expressed its intention to renew ties with Israel, open an embassy in Jerusalem, and withdraw from the ICJ case, describing its actions as a return to a responsible position on the international stage.

Israeli government

Israel's Foreign Ministry and its officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, have welcomed the agreement, pledging full assistance to carry out the embassy move and emphasizing the restoration of relations as a positive step for bilateral cooperation.

Outgoing Colombian government

Although not directly quoted, outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s decision to sever ties in May 2024 is identified as the rupture that the new agreement seeks to reverse, with criticism of that decision expressed in the statement from the incoming president's office.