‘I'm almost in tears’: Colombia quits Hague Group as Jerusalem embassy opens

Key Points:

• Colombia announced its withdrawal from the Hague Group, a coalition opposing Israel over the Gaza war, coinciding with the restoration of diplomatic relations between Colombia and Israel.
• Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar delivered an emotional speech condemning the October 7 Hamas massacre and criticized the previous Colombian government for failing to condemn terrorism and enabling antisemitism.
• The reopening of Colombia's embassy in Jerusalem marks a significant diplomatic shift under President Abelardo de la Espriella, reversing the previous government's severance of ties with Israel in 2024.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the renewed relations, emphasizing past efforts to strengthen ties with Latin America and expressing optimism for future cooperation in agriculture, innovation, and AI.
• Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar highlighted Colombia as the 10th country to open an embassy in Jerusalem, framing the move as part of a broader struggle against misinformation and denial of Israel's historical rights.