Palestine Condemns Colombia’s Jerusalem Embassy Move, Violating International Law

sajadi Editor : Widi - Thursday, 15 October 2026 - 11:28 WIB

Thursday, 15 October 2026 - 11:28 WIB

14 Views

Palestinian Muslims wave a national flag and flash the victory gesture in front of the Dome of the Rock in the Haram al-Sharif compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, in the old city of Jerusalem on July 27, 2017. Palestinians ended a boycott and entered the sensitive Jerusalem holy site, which includes the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, for the first time in two weeks on July 27, 2017 after Israel removed controversial security measures there, potentially ending a crisis that sparked deadly unrest. / AFP PHOTO / AHMAD GHARABLI

Ramallah, MINA – Palestine has condemned Colombia’s decision to open an embassy in West Jerusalem, arguing that the move violates international law and United Nations resolutions governing the city’s disputed status.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the opening of the diplomatic mission undermined Palestinian national rights and challenged the international legal framework concerning Jerusalem.

The ministry described the move as a violation of relevant UN resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolutions 476 and 478, both adopted in 1980 in response to Israeli measures aimed at changing the city’s legal and historical status.

It stressed that decisions intended to alter Jerusalem’s status had no legal validity or effect, warning that the embassy opening weakened the international consensus surrounding the city.

According to the ministry, such diplomatic steps could encourage Israel to continue policies that Palestinians regard as colonial and intended to establish new realities on the ground.

The Palestinian government urged Colombia to reconsider its decision, comply with international law, and respect relevant UN resolutions. It called on Bogota to reverse the move, saying that doing so would help preserve prospects for a just and comprehensive peace.

Colombia inaugurated its embassy in West Jerusalem on Wednesday, becoming the latest country to establish a diplomatic mission in the contested city. The decision followed the restoration of diplomatic relations between Colombia and Israel in August 2026, after the previous Colombian government severed ties with Tel Aviv in May 2024.

The embassy opening adds to the diplomatic divisions surrounding Jerusalem, a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel claims the entire city as its capital, while Palestinians consider East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in 1967, the capital of their future state. The international dispute over Jerusalem’s status has led most countries to maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv or nearby areas.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also pointed to other countries that have established diplomatic missions in West Jerusalem, including the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Fiji and Nauru, as well as Somaliland, which is recognized as independent only by Israel.

The ministry’s appeal to Colombia underscores the Palestinian position that diplomatic recognition and embassy locations should respect international resolutions and preserve the possibility of a negotiated settlement over Jerusalem’s future.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)