When the pharaohs know Joseph: Colombia becomes 10th nation with embassy in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM — In a move Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized as one of “power, courage and faith,” Colombia inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, marking another major step in the rapid restoration of relations between the two countries.

Speaking at the inauguration reception, Netanyahu reflected on Israel’s early ties with Latin American countries such as Colombia, describing them as “deep connections” that later deteriorated.

“There was a new pharaoh, pharaohs, who did not know Joseph,” Netanyahu said, invoking the biblical account of Egypt’s changing relationship with the Israelites.

Now, he said, “it’s all coming back.”

That restoration was on display throughout Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula’s visit to Israel, which included the reinstatement of the countries’ free trade agreement, newly announced measures to combat antisemitism in Colombia and Colombia’s withdrawal from the Hague Group, a coalition of states committed to legal and diplomatic measures against Israel.

For Bula, those ties “should have never been broken.”

“You can't imagine how much I'm almost in tears because of this occasion,” he said.

Bula framed renewed ties with Israel as a matter of defending Colombia’s national interest.

“We do it by standing up for Western and Judeo-Christian values, of which Israel is, I would think, one of the strongest nations in the world,” he said.

Bula said the change also meant Colombia stood with Israel for the first time since the Oct. 7 attacks.

“Just a week ago, we marked the third anniversary of the October 7th attacks,” he said. “They were barbaric murders, carried out by extreme fanatics of a death cult. And for the first time since that horrific day, the government of Colombia stood on the side of truth, on the side of good, on the side of Israel.”

During his visit, Bula met with families of Colombian victims and survivors of the Nova music festival massacre, as well as former hostage and Israeli-Colombian Elkana Buhbot.

“The meeting with my fellow Colombians also reminded me of the tragedy of so many families in the entire country,” Bula said. “It also reminded me that the previous Colombian administration, unfortunately, was oblivious in denouncing this hatred and in the face of this savagery.”

Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro was one of Israel’s fiercest critics, particularly during the Gaza war that followed the Oct. 7 massacre. Under his presidency, Colombia severed diplomatic relations with Israel in 2024 and joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice. Colombia has withdrawn under the new administration.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar recalled a pledge by Abelardo de la Espriella before he was elected Colombia’s president: “‘If, God willing, I am elected President of the Republic,’ he told me, ‘I will immediately move Colombia's embassy to Jerusalem,’” Sa’ar said. “He kept his promise.”

Mi amigo, @ABDELAESPRIELLA, quien asumirá mañana como presidente de Colombia, es un líder decidido e inspirador. Su elección es una gran noticia para su país, pero también para la relación entre Israel y Colombia. De la Espriella es un gran amigo del pueblo judío y del Estado de Israel. Tuve el privilegio de reunirme con él en su oficina en Barranquilla, un día antes de las 24 horas más significativas de su vida. En la reunión analizamos el fortalecimiento inmediato de las relaciones políticas, de seguridad y económicas entre Colombia e Israel. Fue una reunión muy importante para el futuro de la cooperación entre ambos países. La era dorada en las relaciones entre Colombia e Israel comienza hoy. ¡Muchos éxitos, Abelardo! ¡Muchos éxitos, Colombia!

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) August 7, 2026

Since De la Espriella’s inauguration, Colombia has also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a step taken on his fourth day in office. Bula said Israeli tourism and travel to Colombia has since increased by 183%.

“In just two months, we have undone all the damage that President Petro caused to relations between our countries. And we have gone much further,” Sa’ar said.

Sa’ar marked Colombia becoming the 10th country to have an embassy in Jerusalem as a diplomatic milestone, calling the group Israel’s “first minyan.” He said the Democratic Republic of Congo was expected to become the 11th, while an unnamed 12th country would soon follow.

He called the inauguration “a day of celebration for Jerusalem” as Israel faces what he described as a “particularly challenging diplomatic campaign” based on denying Israel’s rights to its land and capital.

“Our diplomatic struggle is also a struggle for the historical truth,” Sa’ar said. “Throughout history, many peoples and foreign empires have ruled this city, but only one people made Jerusalem its capital: the Jewish people.”

In a recorded message, De la Espriella said the embassy reaffirmed a commitment he had made before his election to fully restore relations with Israel.

He also highlighted Colombia’s “deep connection” with its Jewish community, saying it deserved the country’s “gratitude and recognition” for contributions ranging from business and academia to medicine, culture and science.

“We are not simply talking about a diplomatic headquarters; we are opening a new door for Colombia and Israel to be closer,” he said.

The Arab League criticized the embassy move as a “violation of international resolutions,” as did Turkey and Iran. Colombia has severed relations with Iran under De la Espriella’s leadership.

Colombia moved its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv in 1980 to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 478. The resolution followed Israel’s passage of the Jerusalem Law, which declared the entire city – including East Jerusalem, captured from Jordan in the Six-Day War of 1967 – Israel’s “complete and united” capital.

At Wednesday’s reception, Netanyahu also recalled becoming the first sitting Israeli prime minister to visit Latin America and hinted that another visit to Colombia may be on the horizon.

Referring to a prior trip to Brazil for Jair Bolsonaro’s presidential inauguration, Netanyahu added: “Who knows? We may do it again.”

Later this month, Bolsonaro’s son, pro-Israel presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, is set to face President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, under whose government relations with Israel have deteriorated.

Across Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Costa Rica and now Colombia, the regional turn toward Israel may be a sign of what happens when the pharaohs know Joseph.