{"id":580864,"date":"2026-08-11T00:02:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T00:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/580864\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T00:02:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T00:02:14","slug":"new-colombian-government-recognizes-israels-sovereignty-over-golan-heights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/580864\/","title":{"rendered":"New Colombian government recognizes Israel’s sovereignty over Golan Heights"},"content":{"rendered":"

Colombia on Monday recognized Israel\u2019s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, South American country\u2019s new right-wing government announced, making it only the second country in the world to officially endorse Israel\u2019s claim to the disputed territory, after the US did so in 2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the persistent regional instability in the Middle East and considering the strategic importance of the Golan Heights to Israel\u2019s security, the Government of Colombia recognizes Israeli sovereignty over this territory, as well as Israel\u2019s right to protect itself against external threats,\u201d Colombia\u2019s foreign ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this regional security context, Colombia recognizes that maintaining Israel\u2019s control and sovereignty over the Golan Heights is an essential component of its national defense and its ability to protect and safeguard its citizens,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

The announcement came just days after the inauguration<\/a> as the nation\u2019s president of pro-Israel lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, who has pledged to move the Colombian embassy to Jerusalem and restore once-vibrant ties, which soured during the Gaza war under former president Gustavo Petro. The inauguration was attended by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar, amid a push for closer relations with Latin America.<\/p>\n

It also came just hours after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake<\/a> struck western Colombia, killing at least 100 people and injuring hundreds more, prompting Israel to offer its assistance.<\/p>\n

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Reacting to the move, Sa\u2019ar thanked his \u201cgood friend\u201d de la Espriella \u201cfor his historic decision to recognize Israel\u2019s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.\u201d<\/p>\n

#Atenci\u00f3n<\/a> | Colombia reconoce la soberan\u00eda de Israel sobre los Altos del Gol\u00e1n. pic.twitter.com\/D7dDZ6lxzy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Canciller\u00eda Colombia (@CancilleriaCol) August 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWith this, the President of Colombia has demonstrated, in one of his first decisions in office, his leadership, his values, and his commitment to Israel and Israel\u2019s security,\u201d he said on X.\n<\/p>\n

Defending the strategic necessity of Israel\u2019s control over the territory, Sa\u2019ar said, \u201cIsrael is a small country without strategic depth. Having defensible borders is essential for Israel in order to guarantee the existence of the Jewish people in its historic homeland.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sa\u2019ar added that he will \u201ccontinue to act so that more countries join\u201d the US and Colombia in recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tForeign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar, right, meets with Colombia\u2019s incoming president Abelardo de la Espriella at the latter\u2019s office in Barranquilla, Colombia, on August 6, 2026, a day before de la Espriella\u2019s inauguration. (Lodis Studios)<\/p>\n

Israel captured the strategic plateau from Syria during the 1967 Six Day War, and extended Israeli law to it in 1981, a step tantamount to annexation.<\/p>\n

In 2019, US President Donald Trump broke with decades of US policy by signing a proclamation recognizing<\/a> Israeli sovereignty over the Golan. His successor, Joe Biden, did not reverse<\/a> the decision.<\/p>\n


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