3 weeks ago
Colombia Recognises Israel's Golan Heights Claim, Breaking Global Consensus
There is a piece of land called the Golan Heights that Israel and Syria both want.
Israel captured it in a war in 1967 and later said the land belonged to Israel.
But the United Nations and most countries say the land still belongs to Syria.
A country far away called Colombia just said Israel should keep the Golan Heights.
Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, announced this just three days after he took office.
Only the United States, which is Israel's close ally, had said something like this before.
Israel's foreign minister said he was happy and called the new president his friend.
The United Nations secretary-general said Israel's occupation of the land is totally unacceptable.
Colombia's previous president had cut ties with Israel and stopped buying Israeli weapons.
Now the new leader wants to be friends with Israel and the United States instead.
Colombia has become only the second country, after the United States, to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
President Abelardo de la Espriella's newly installed government announced the decision on Monday, three days after he took office.
Colombia's Foreign Ministry said Israel has the right to defend itself against external threats and called Israeli control of the Golan Heights essential to national defence.
Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed it in 1981, an annexation the UN has never recognised.
The move reverses the policy of former President Gustavo Petro, who had severed diplomatic relations with Israel and halted Israeli arms imports.
- Who
- Colombia's government under newly installed President Abelardo de la Espriella, welcomed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and opposed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; the move reverses the stance of former President Gustavo Petro.
- What
- Recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the disputed territory captured from Syria in 1967.
- Where
- Colombia, where the decision was agreed during a meeting in Barranquilla; the territory in question is the Golan Heights, captured from Syria.
- When
- Monday, August 10, three days after De la Espriella took office.
- Why
- The new right-wing government campaigned on closer ties with Washington and Israel and regards Israeli control of the Golan Heights as essential to Israel's national defence.
Supporters of Recognition
International Consensus and Previous Government
Sovereignty over the Golan Heights
Supporters of Recognition
Colombia and Israel argue Israel has the right to defend itself against external threats and that control of the Golan Heights is essential to its national defence; Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called defensible borders essential to the continued existence of the Jewish people in their historic homeland.
International Consensus and Previous Government
The United Nations has never recognised Israel's 1981 annexation and continues to regard the Golan Heights as Syrian territory under Israeli occupation; Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the occupation 'totally unacceptable.'
Colombia's relations with Israel
Supporters of Recognition
The new US-backed government of Abelardo de la Espriella promised to rebuild ties severed by his predecessor and to deepen cooperation with Washington and Jerusalem.
International Consensus and Previous Government
Former President Gustavo Petro, a vocal critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, severed diplomatic relations with Israel and halted Israeli arms imports.
Key facts
- Country
- Colombia
- Territory
- Golan Heights, captured from Syria in 1967
- Decision announced
- Monday, August 10
- President
- Abelardo de la Espriella (in office three days)
- Other recognising nation
- United States
- Israel's annexation
- 1981 (not recognised by the United Nations)
- UN position
- Golan Heights remains Syrian territory; occupation 'totally unacceptable'
- Predecessor policy
- Gustavo Petro severed diplomatic ties and halted Israeli arms imports
Quotes
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar
Israel’s foreign minister who welcomed Colombia’s recognition
“"Defensible borders are essential to guarantee the continued existence of the Jewish people in our historic homeland."”
wionews.com
“"The Government of Colombia recognises Israeli sovereignty over this territory."”
wionews.com











