Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella has announced plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem and withdraw the country's intervention in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case brought by South Africa against Israel, signalling a major shift in Bogotá's foreign policy.
In a statement released by his office, De la Espriella said the move was part of efforts to restore what he described as Colombia's "historic alliance" with Israel.
The statement also confirmed that the incoming administration intends to withdraw Colombia's intervention in the case before the ICJ. South Africa's lawsuit accuses Israel of violating the Genocide Convention through its military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Israel has strongly denied the allegations.
De la Espriella, the far-right leader of the Defenders of the Homeland party, is set to take office on 7 August, when he will succeed outgoing President Gustavo Petro.
Petro, a left-wing leader and outspoken critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, significantly downgraded relations with Israel during his presidency and voiced support for international legal efforts targeting the Israeli government.
The announcement marks one of De la Espriella's first major foreign policy commitments since his election and points to a substantial realignment of Colombia's diplomatic stance in the Middle East.
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Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 14 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in the world of artificial intelligence (AI).
Residents of a small English village have held a symbolic referendum on whether to leave the United Kingdom in protest against government plans to accommodate more than 1,200 asylum seekers at a nearby former military site.
French authorities have opened an investigation after footage emerged showing a police officer violently throwing a 29-year-old man to the ground in Carcassonne, renewing scrutiny over police violence days after a separate racism scandal involving officers in the southern city.
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