Colombia inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, joining a narrow circle of countries that have established their diplomatic representation to Israel in this city, whose status as Israel's capital is not recognized by the international community.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said, "It is an important day for the State of Israel, and also an important day for the city of Jerusalem," as he signed the embassy's golden register in the presence of his Colombian counterpart, Omar Bola.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and Colombian Ambassador Tania Gillinski.
The decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem came at the initiative of conservative Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, an ally of US President Donald Trump, who had previously moved the United States embassy to Jerusalem in 2018 during his first presidential term.
The vast majority of countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel keep their embassies in Tel Aviv.
Only the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Fiji, Nauru, and Somaliland (the unilaterally declared Republic of Somaliland) have embassies in Jerusalem, contrary to international consensus.
Sa'ar had stated last week that the Democratic Republic of the Congo would soon move its embassy to Jerusalem.
