Colombia opened its embassy in Jerusalem in October 2026
The opening on 14 October 2026
Colombia officially inaugurated an embassy in Jerusalem on 14 October 2026. Colombia’s foreign ministry published a statement naming Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar and Ambassador Tania Gilinski, while Israel’s foreign ministry held a reception the same day. The move makes Colombia one of a small group of countries maintaining embassies in Jerusalem rather than the Tel Aviv area. It followed the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries in August 2026, a significant shift after a period of severe disagreement.
Diplomatic history
Israel and Colombia established diplomatic relations in 1957 and developed cooperation in fields including commerce and security. Former Colombian president Gustavo Petro severed ties in 2024 in response to Israel’s war in Gaza; the new Colombian administration later restored those ties. The embassy opening is therefore not merely a change of street address. It represents a change in foreign policy, the appointment of diplomatic personnel and the rebuilding of formal cooperation that had been interrupted.
Why Jerusalem is contested
Israel considers Jerusalem its capital and houses its parliament, government ministries and supreme court there. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. The city’s sovereignty and final status are disputed internationally, and most governments keep their embassies in or near Tel Aviv pending a negotiated settlement. Colombia’s decision attracted attention because it takes a visible position within that debate. An accurate account should explain both the Israeli government’s welcome and the wider diplomatic controversy without claiming that the relocation resolves the dispute.
Relations with the United States and others
The United States moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018, and several other countries later followed. Colombia is not the second such country: by October 2026 it was described by Israeli officials as the tenth country with an embassy in Jerusalem. Comparisons should use the same date and definition because missions can move, reopen or close. The new Colombian mission serves ordinary diplomatic functions such as supporting citizens, issuing documents and facilitating official contacts.
What happens next
An embassy opening is a milestone but not a complete measure of bilateral relations. Trade, visas, technology cooperation and diplomatic exchanges depend on subsequent agreements and practical work. Readers should check embassy contact information with the governments rather than relying on old directory listings. By describing the date, the participants and the territorial context separately, this episode can be understood as both a bilateral development and part of the larger international debate about Jerusalem.
Sources
October 2026