Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar congratulated Abelardo de la Espriella on his presidential election victory Sunday night and invited him to visit Jerusalem, expressing hope that diplomatic ties severed under outgoing President Gustavo Petro will be restored to new heights, according to Sa'ar's office.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar officially congratulated Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella on Monday morning and invited him for a state visit to Jerusalem, expressing hope that diplomatic ties severed under outgoing President Gustavo Petro will be restored to 'an all-time high.' The invitation follows de la Espriella's decisive victory in Sunday's presidential runoff — a result Sa'ar and U.S. President Donald Trump both congratulated hours earlier, as The Zioneer reported at 06:04 Monday.
The thread of this development began Sunday at 22:28 Jerusalem, when The Zioneer first reported de la Espriella's pre-election pledge to move Colombia's embassy to Jerusalem. Throughout the evening, multiple versions tracked the race: a projected 50.1% win via exit polls (v.2), a narrow lead as opponent Jorge Cepeda challenged the count (v.5, AP), and finally Trump and Sa'ar's congratulations (v.6). By 03:53 Monday, The Zioneer reported that President Petro refused to recognize the result and alleged Israeli interference — a claim Sa'ar's office did not address in Monday's statement. At 06:04, Sa'ar's call with de la Espriella was disclosed; by 07:01, Sa'ar's office published the formal invitation and embassy expectation.
De la Espriella has previously stated that under his government 'the embassy will be located in Jerusalem,' and met Sa'ar in November. As The Zioneer reported at 03:12 Monday, former Colombian President César Gaviria also endorsed de la Espriella, voicing trust he will uphold the 1991 constitution. A move to Jerusalem would make Colombia the ninth country with an embassy there, reinforcing a trend among Latin American nations. Outgoing President Petro severed diplomatic relations with Israel in May 2024 (as The Zioneer reported at 03:53).
No date for the visit has been set.
7 developments
- DevelopingOutgoing Colombia president Petro alleges Israeli vote-rigging as he refuses to concede
- DevelopingPro-Israel candidate Abelardo de la Espriella wins Colombia presidency, pledges Jerusalem embassy move
- DevelopingFormer Colombian President Gaviria endorses de la Espriella, voices trust he will uphold the 1991 constitution
- StrongIsraeli officials condemn Colombia president after 'Heil Hitler' post, Nazi comparisons
Source and signal
- Internal intake