Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar announced Wednesday that his country was withdrawing from The Hague Group, a coalition of countries seeking diplomatic, legal and economic measures against Israel over the war in Gaza, while delivering an emotional speech celebrating the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Speaking at a reception at Israel’s Foreign Ministry after the inauguration of the Colombian embassy in Jerusalem, Bula Escobar described the occasion as a “historic event” and said she was struggling to contain her emotions. with Netanyahu, Sa’ar and Bula Escobar (Video: Ministry of Foreign Affairs) “I am almost crying at this event that marks the restoration of relations with Israel, which should never have been broken,” he said in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. “Today I announce Colombia’s withdrawal from the Hague Group, a group of countries that attacked Israel and worked to isolate it. We oppose that approach.” The ceremony marked a dramatic shift in relations between Israel and Colombia after the elections of President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office in August after defeating the political camp of former President Gustavo Petro, whose government severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2024 over the war in Gaza. Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar (Photo: Ronen Horesh / GPO)Bula Escobar also delivered an emotional condemnation of the Hamas massacre of October 7. of death,” he said. “Colombia supports the truth and supports Israel.” The Colombian foreign minister recounted a Tuesday meeting with former Hamas hostage Elkana Bohbot, who survived captivity in Gaza. “I gave her a Colombian passport,” he said. “The survivors are an inspiration to all of us.” The meeting, he added, reminded him of the tragedy Israel had endured and what he described as the failures of the previous Colombian government. “The previous Colombian government behaved in a shameful manner,” he said. “They did not condemn terrorism and opened the door to an ugly wave of anti-Semitism.” Gideon Sa’ar and Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar (Photo: Ronen Horesh / GPO) The reception was also attended by the mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion, the Colombian ambassador to Israel, Tania Gilinski, the Israeli ambassador to Colombia, Vivian Aisen, and members of the diplomatic corps. Netanyahu welcomed He welcomed the restoration of relations and recalled his previous efforts to strengthen Israel’s ties with Latin America. “No Israeli prime minister in 70 years of our history had traveled to South Texas,” he said. “I said it couldn’t be, and it was. We went to Colombia, Argentina and Mexico. They were very good and friendly visits. Later, we visited Brazil for President Bolsonaro’s inauguration. Who knows, maybe we will do it again.” “The deep sympathy between our peoples is returning,” Netanyahu added. “We want to seize the future together, in agriculture, innovation and artificial intelligence.” Sa’ar noted that Colombia had become the tenth country to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, and described the opening as another milestone in Israel’s diplomatic efforts. “Our diplomatic fight is also a fight for historical truth,” he said. “The campaign against Israel is based on lies and denial, the denial of our rights to our land and to our “We have no intention of giving up our rights in Jerusalem, which will remain the united capital of Israel,” he added.
