The proposed embassy would represent a significant upgrade in relations and mark formal Colombian recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.Follow us on GoogleColombia’s incoming foreign minister, Omar Bula Escobar (L), and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar shake hands after agreeing to work to repair Israel and Colombia's relations.(photo credit: FOREIGN MINISTRY)BySHIR PERETSJULY 16, 2026 13:18Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Colombia’s incoming foreign minister, Omar Bula Escobar, agreed on Wednesday in Washington to fully restore diplomatic and economic relations between Israel and Colombia, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.The agreement is intended to reverse the rupture initiated by outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro in May 2024 and renew bilateral cooperation after Colombia’s new government takes office.The two ministers also agreed to exchange ambassadors, abolish visa requirements for Israeli and Colombian citizens, and expand Israeli development assistance to Colombia through MASHAV, Israel’s international development cooperation agency, the ministry said. Bula told Sa’ar that Colombia’s incoming government intends to open an embassy in Jerusalem.Colombia plans to move embassy to JerusalemThe proposed embassy would represent a significant upgrade in relations and mark formal Colombian recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Colombia previously opened a trade and innovation office in Jerusalem under former president Iván Duque, who described the country as Israel’s leading ally in Latin America.Colombia’s incoming foreign minister, Omar Bula Escobar (L), and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar agree to work to repair Israel and Colombia's relations. (credit: FOREIGN MINISTRY)The latest agreement follows a telephone conversation in June between Sa’ar and Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella. The Foreign Ministry has since begun preparations to appoint a new Israeli ambassador to Bogotá ahead of the presidential inauguration scheduled for August 7.De la Espriella defeated left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda in Colombia’s June presidential election. Petro subsequently accused Israel of interfering in the vote, an allegation reported by The Jerusalem Post, while the incoming president has signaled that he intends to move Colombia away from Petro’s foreign policy.Colombia had historically been one of Israel’s closest partners in Latin America, with extensive cooperation in diplomacy, trade, security, agriculture, and technology. Relations deteriorated sharply under Petro, who announced in May 2024 that Colombia would sever diplomatic ties with Israel over the war in Gaza.Israel recalled its ambassador to Colombia in June 2024, while Colombia’s ambassador to Israel completed her term and left the country later that month. The diplomatic rupture raised concerns regarding the future of bilateral trade and security cooperation, although experts assessed at the time that existing agreements could remain in place despite the political dispute, the Post reported.Petro also ordered Colombia to establish an embassy in Ramallah after cutting ties with Israel, according to a May 2024 report. His government’s policies represented a marked departure from those of Duque, who had sought to deepen Colombian cooperation with Israel.Follow us on Google