contested city. Most countries keep their embassies in Tel Aviv, saying Jerusalem's status should be decided in a final Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called it an important date for Israel and Jerusalem during the opening ceremony. The move marks a sharp foreign policy shift under Colombia's new hard-right president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who announced the relocation in July. His leftist predecessor, Gustavo Petro, had severed ties with Israel in 2024 over its offensive in Gaza. Israel had been one of Colombia's key security partners. Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula called the opening a concrete step toward restoring diplomatic relations that should never have been interrupted. Ambassador Tania Gilinski said Israel is a strategic partner, now with even greater determination. Saar called it the beginning of a golden age between the two countries. President Donald Trump broke international consensus in 2018 by moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, home to Israel's parliament and prime minister. Since then only Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Nauru have followed. Kosovo and Somaliland, both non-UN members, have also opened missions there. Argentina's Javier Milei has promised to do the same. Israel occupied and annexed East Jerusalem in 1967, a move largely unrecognized internationally. In August, Colombia also recognized Israel's claim to the Golan Heights, seized from Syria in 1967. Until then, only the U.S. had recognized Israel's 1981 annexation. The UN still considers it occupied Syrian territory. (Bssnews)