Colombia Considers Joining Holocaust Alliance as Ties with Israel Deepen

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar affixed a mezuzah to the entrance of Colombia’s new embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, marking a significant step in the rapidly improving diplomatic relationship between the two nations. During Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar’s visit to Jerusalem, the two leaders discussed the possibility of Colombia joining the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Israeli Ambassador to Colombia Vivian Aisen revealed this discussion to The Media Line, noting that Colombia adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism in June 2022 but is not yet a member or observer country. No formal application has been announced.

The IHRA promotes Holocaust education, remembrance, and research. Countries seeking full membership must first obtain observer status and then proceed through an intermediate liaison stage. Colombia’s decision to explore IHRA membership reflects its growing alignment with Israel on issues of historical memory and antisemitism. The embassy’s inauguration on October 14, 2026, made Colombia the 10th country with an embassy in Jerusalem and the fourth Latin American nation to do so, following Guatemala, Honduras, and Paraguay.

The diplomatic shift is part of a broader realignment under Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella. His government has restored full relations with Israel, lifted reciprocal visa requirements, removed restrictions on coal exports, and renewed the implementation of the countries’ free trade agreement. At a Foreign Ministry reception attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bula announced that Colombia had formally requested to withdraw from the Hague Group, a coalition coordinating diplomatic and legal measures against Israel over the war in Gaza. He also announced plans for a national initiative to combat antisemitism.

The embassy opening fulfilled a promise made before de la Espriella’s election. Sa’ar noted that the two leaders met in Buenos Aires in November 2025, when the future president pledged to relocate Colombia’s embassy to Jerusalem if elected. “He made a promise, and he kept it,” Sa’ar said. “Just two months after he took office, we inaugurated the Embassy of Colombia in Jerusalem.” The embassy occupies a stone building dating to 1920, symbolizing the enduring nature of the new diplomatic ties.

The move underscores the deepening strategic and cultural bonds between Israel and Colombia. As both nations navigate complex international dynamics, their growing cooperation reflects shared values of historical accountability and mutual respect. The situation calls for continued commitment to justice, peace, and the pursuit of truth, as outlined in Micah 6:8, which urges people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

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