Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement Tuesday expressing gratitude to Colombia after the South American nation formally acknowledged Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
“The nation is with Colombia," Netanyahu declared in the video clip, referencing the popular 1990s campaign slogan “the nation is with the Golan", which opposed relinquishing the strategic plateau.
Gesturing toward a map depicting the region, Netanyahu stated, “The Israeli flag flies here," adding, “and it will continue to fly here. Because this is our land."
On Monday, the Colombian government officially declared its recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the territory, becoming only the second country globally to do so following the United States.
In a formal public statement, Bogota cited the plateau's strategic importance to Israeli national defense amid ongoing regional instability throughout the Middle East. Colombian officials noted that Israel has contended with continuous, existential security threats along its frontiers for decades, pointing out that these dangers intensified dramatically in recent years and peaked during the October 7 terrorist attacks.
Colombia stressed that its diplomatic step reinforces its dedication to fostering enduring peace across the Middle East.
Colombia’s policy shift follows a dramatic political transition in Colombia following its presidential election. Newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella, who assumed office on August 7, committed to rebuilding and strengthening bilateral relations with Israel.
The move completely reverses the foreign policy of former President Gustavo Petro, an outspoken critic of Israel whose administration severed diplomatic ties with Israel in May 2024 and subsequently announced the opening of a Colombian embassy in Ramallah.
Throughout his presidential campaign, De la Espriella pledged to restore Colombia's "historic alliance" with Israel, signaling a major realignment in Bogota's approach toward the Jewish state.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar welcomed the move, characterizing it as "historic," while expressing gratitude to President De La Espriella and Foreign Affairs Minister Omar Bula Escobar.
Sa'ar highlighted that the declaration followed a meeting he held with the Colombian president in Barranquilla last Thursday.
Prior to that encounter, Sa'ar met in Washington, D.C., with Colombia's new Foreign Minister, where both officials agreed to steer bilateral relations back toward their previously cooperative path. During those talks, both sides agreed to restore full diplomatic and economic connections and exchange ambassadors.
"With 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's security," Sa'ar stated.
"Israel 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," he added.
The foreign minister reaffirmed his intention to "continue to act so that more countries join the United States (under President Trump) and Colombia (under President De La Espriella) in recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan, to which Israeli law was applied 45 years ago."