Colombia’s new government will open an embassy in Jerusalem

The move comes amid a right-wing wave sweeping across Latin America that is reshaping alliances with the United States and Israel.

Etgar Lefkovits

Colombia’s incoming foreign minister Omar Bola Escobar meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in Washington on July 14, 2026. Credit: Shmulik Almany/Israeli Foreign Ministry.

(July 16, 2026 / JNS)  Colombia’s incoming foreign minister has told his Israeli counterpart that the South American country will open an embassy in Jerusalem, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, making good on President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s election pledge.

The move comes amid a right-wing wave sweeping across Latin America that is reshaping alliances with the United States and Israel.

Rubio imposes sanctions on UN's Albanese over 'political, economic warfare' against Israel, US

"A clear message. Time for the UN to pay attention!" Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar wrote in response.

UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese gives a press conference at the UN City in Copenhagen, Denmark February 5, 2025.(photo credit: Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is imposing sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, over her efforts to have the International Criminal Court take action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.

“Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated,” Rubio said Wednesday in a post on X/Twitter.

Un paso con peso histórico: Israel aprueba sede permanente para la embajada de EE.UU. en Jerusalén

En un movimiento que refuerza décadas de alianza estratégica, Israel aprobó la asignación de terrenos en el Complejo Allenby, en Jerusalén, para la construcción de una embajada permanente de los Estados Unidos, consolidando así un símbolo duradero de la relación entre ambos países.

El anuncio fue realizado conjuntamente por el primer ministro Benjamin Netanyahu, el ministro de Asuntos Exteriores Gideon Sa’ar y el ministro de Construcción y Vivienda Haim Katz, quienes calificaron la iniciativa como un “gran movimiento diplomático”.

Las autoridades israelíes subrayaron que este paso tiene sus raíces en la “decisión valiente e histórica” del entonces presidente Donald Trump, quien durante su primer mandato reconoció a Jerusalén como capital de Israel y trasladó la embajada estadounidense a la ciudad.

España retira permanentemente su embajador de Tel Aviv

Pedro Sanchez. Foto: Flickr.

La crisis diplomática entre España e Israel ha alcanzado su punto de ruptura más crítico hoy, tras la decisión del Gobierno español de retirar de forma permanente a su embajadora en Tel Aviv.

Este movimiento oficializa una fractura que se venía gestando desde el inicio de la guerra contra el régimen de Irán el pasado 28 de febrero y profundiza el aislamiento diplomático mutuo.

El Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE) publicó ayer el decreto que termina oficialmente las funciones de la embajadora española. A partir de ahora, la misión diplomática en Tel Aviv quedará reducida al nivel de encargado de negocios, igualando el estatus de la embajada de Israel en Madrid (cuya embajadora fue retirada por Israel en mayo de 2024 tras el reconocimiento del “Estado de Palestina” por parte de España).

Somaliland delegation visits Israel after historic recognition, eyes water tech partnership

Official Somaliland delegation visits Israel (Photo: Israel Foreign Ministry)

The first delegation from Somaliland arrived in Israel on Monday for an official visit, led by the Director General of the Somaliland Water Ministry, Aden Abdullah Abdullah, along with other senior officials. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen diplomatic relations following Jerusalem's official recognition of the African country in December 2025.

Somaliland – an arid country facing chronic water shortages – is reportedly seeking to study Israel’s advanced water technologies. As part of the visit, the delegation toured the National Center for Water Education and Innovation at the Shafdan wastewater treatment complex in Rishon LeZion, in central Israel.

Iran-Russia hold joint naval exercise; Foreigners must leave Iran immediately TV7Israel News 19 Feb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c69HeRmKs2E

Argentina delays Jerusalem embassy move over Israeli involvement in oil project near disputed Falkland Islands

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Argentina has delayed the planned move of its embassy to Jerusalem following unusual diplomatic tensions linked to the involvement of an Israeli company in an oil project near the Falkland Islands, Israeli news outlet N12 reported on Sunday.

The Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean remain disputed territory, claimed by both Argentina and the United Kingdom, which defeated Argentina in the 1982 war over the islands.

The tension was reportedly sparked after an Israeli private company, Navitas Petroleum, announced its involvement in a drilling project in the Sea Lion oil field near the disputed area.

Alemania defiende el futuro de la Autoridad Palestina en la reconstrucción de Gaza tras reunión con Abbas

Johann Wadephul Foto: Sven Teschke, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35471774

El ministro alemán de Asuntos Exteriores, Johann Wadephul, se reunió este viernes con el presidente de la Autoridad Palestina (AP), Mahmud Abbas, en el marco de su viaje a Israel y Cisjordania, y subrayó el papel del “autogobierno palestino” en la reconstrucción gazatí.

“La AP es la única representante reconocida de los intereses de los palestinos. Debe volver a Gaza y el presidente Abbas me lo ha subrayado expresamente”, señaló Wadephul en una declaración a los medios alemanes que le acompañan en su visita a Israel y los territorios palestinos.

Wadephul planteó que la AP “debe participar en la reconstrucción” de la Franja de Gaza y que Alemania está dispuesta a apoyar activamente esa labor, aunque debe haber un proceso de “legitimación democrática” del autogobierno palestino.

Saar se reunió con Zelensky en Ucrania

El canciller israelí Gideon Saar se reunió este miércoles con el presidente ucraniano, Volodymyr Zelensky, en Kiev.

Durante la reunión, que Saar calificó de “buena y amistosa”, el ministro expresó su agradecimiento al pueblo ucraniano, que lleva tres años y medio enfrentando una dura guerra.

Ambos abordaron la importancia de estrechar las relaciones bilaterales entre nuestras naciones, la guerra en Ucrania y la situación en Oriente Medio, con especial atención a Irán.

La UE rechaza sanciones a Israel en medio de una batalla diplomática; la Autoridad Palestina condena la decisión como «impactante y decepcionante».

Israel celebró la decisión de la Unión Europea de no tomar medidas punitivas contra el Estado judío por la guerra en Gaza, calificándola de “importante victoria diplomática” mientras algunos estados miembros presionan para socavar la campaña militar de Jerusalén contra el grupo terrorista palestino Hamás en el enclave devastado por la guerra.

El martes, la Alta Representante de la UE para Asuntos Exteriores y Política de Seguridad, Kaja Kallas, anunció que el bloque no impondría sanciones a Israel, tras una reunión de ministros de Asuntos Exteriores de la UE para abordar la cuestión.

Alemania: Israel debe recibir apoyo en la lucha contra el terrorismo

Alexander Dobrindt y Gideon Saar Foto: Shlomi Amsalem / GPO vía Facebook

El ministro del Interior de Alemania, Alexander Dobrindt, afirmó este domingo en Bat Yam, en el sur de Tel Aviv y donde cayó un misil iraní el 15 de junio que asesinó a ocho personas, que Israel debe “recibir apoyo en la lucha contra el terrorismo”.

“Israel debe recibir apoyo en la lucha contra el terrorismo. No hay justificación para ataques contra la población civil, como ocurrió aquí”, dijo Dobrindt, quien es el primer alto cargo extranjero en visitar Israel tras la operación contra el programa nuclear y de misiles de Irán, acompañado por el ministro de Exteriores, Gideon Saar.

Israel’s foreign minister attacks Macron over enthusiastic response to Abbas letter

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas writes to France's letter saying he supports peace initiative, release of the hostages, and calls for Hamas to lay down its arms.

By Lee Harpin

Emmanuel Macron

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar has claimed a letter sent by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to France’spresident calling for Hamas to hand over its weapons, the release of the hostages, and the start of a renewed peace process is full of “lies” and “empty slogans.”

French President Emmanuel Macron enthusiastically welcomed the letter as being one of ” hope, courage and clarity” writing on X: “This is a decisive moment.”

Macron backs down on Palestinian state at upcoming conference

French officials visiting Israel assured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the conference would not recognize "Palestine."

JNS Staff

French President Emmanuel Macron looks on before the inauguration of the Saint-Denis Pleyel metro station north of Paris on June 24, 2024. Photo by Yves Herman/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.

(June 8, 2025 / JNS)  An international conference, the brainchild of France, to recognize a Palestinian state, has lowered its sights.

Scheduled for June 16-18 at United Nations headquarters in New York, it will now focus on determining steps toward recognition rather than recognition itself.

‘A prize for genocidal Oct 7’: PM Netanyahu rebukes sanction threats by UK, France & Canada over Gaza offensive & aid

Leaders threaten to recognize ‘Palestine,’ impose sanctions against Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Screenshot/GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an unusually sharp rebuke on Monday evening after a statement by the leaders of the UK, France, and Canada, who threatened to recognize a Palestinian state and to issue sanctions if Israel didn’t stop the Gaza offensive and restore aid to the enclave.

“By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities,” Netanyahu hit back in a statement.

Smotrich: 'I will not allow signing a partial deal that gives Hamas oxygen and a lifeline'

Foreign Minister Sa'ar said that "if there is a chance to release hostages, it is appropriate to do so."

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich seen over posters of Israeli hostages in Gaza(photo credit: FLASH90)

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated he would not allow a partial deal with Hamas in a post on X/Twitter on Wednesday, following US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff's announcement that a new hostage deal proposal will be sent to Israel and Hamas.

"We need to continue tightening the rope around Hamas' neck and force it into a complete surrender deal with all the hostages at once," he wrote.

“Solo tienen que quemar”: Hamás llama a incendiar Jerusalén y Judea y Samaria

Hamás publicó un mensaje en Telegram el miércoles animando a los palestinos a “quemar todo lo que puedan de arboledas, bosques y casas de colonos”.

“Jóvenes de Cisjordania, jóvenes de Jerusalén y quienes están dentro de Israel, incendien sus coches… Gaza espera la venganza de los libres”, escribió la organización terrorista.

Anteriormente, el canal de Telegram de Jenin News Network instó a los palestinos a “quemar las arboledas cercanas a los asentamientos” en una publicación en Telegram el miércoles.

Greece Is Keen to Expand Ties with Israel

BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 2,340, April 8, 2025

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: On March 30, 2025, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Fifteen years after the historic visit to the Israeli capital by then-premier George Papandreou, which paved the way for the ongoing Greek-Israeli friendship, the two countries are continuing to advance their strategic partnership. The necessity for closer ties with the Jewish State has become a critical element of Greek foreign and military policy, and there is political consensus on the value of the relationship. New defense synergies that will likely complement older agreements are currently on the agenda.

On the Brink of War? Rising Tensions Between the U.S. & Iran – What It Means for Israel | KAN 11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePKeMJvh97Q

Israeli FM Sa’ar: Hamas not ready to disarm

He rejected a Hezbollah-style model for Gaza in an interview with ABC News.

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar speaks to reporters at the ministry in Jerusalem, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.

(March 12, 2025 / JNS)  Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday dismissed the idea that the Hamas terrorist organization is prepared to lay down its arms.

“I don’t see any indication that Hamas is ready to disarm,” Sa’ar said in an interview with ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman.

As European and Arab leaders rush to meet Syria’s new leader, Israel calls for caution

Ahmed al-Sharaa is hoping to convince the world that he’s left his jihadist past behind, but FM Gideon Sa’ar and other senior officials are not persuaded.

By Lazar Berman

This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA shows France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (C) and Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L) walking with Syria's new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of their meeting in Damascus on January 3, 2025. (SANA/AFP)

As Syria’s new government strives to gain international legitimacy after overthrowing the Bashar al-Assad regime, Western countries seem open to giving a chance to the government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group.