Nineteen foreign ministers condemn Colombia's Jerusalem embassy opening

The foreign ministers of 19 countries issued a joint statement on October 16 condemning Colombia's embassy opening in Jerusalem and urging Bogotá to reverse the decision.

The signatories said relocating the mission contradicted UN Security Council resolutions and undermined efforts to achieve peace based on two states, Israel and Palestine.

The statement was signed by Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Türkiye. The ministers said measures to change Jerusalem's legal or historical status, or recognise it as Israel's capital, were invalid.

Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar opened the embassy on October 14. Colombia restored diplomatic relations with Israel after President Abelardo de la Espriella took office. In July, he announced that the mission would move from Tel Aviv.

Previous president Gustavo Petro severed diplomatic relations with Israel in 2024 in protest at Israeli military actions in Gaza.