Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that Colombia is preparing to open its embassy in Jerusalem next Wednesday, a step implementing a decision taken by Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella upon assuming the presidency to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Speaking during his participation in a conference on Thursday, Saar said the embassy opening ceremony will be held next week, making Colombia one of the few countries to have moved its diplomatic missions to Jerusalem.
In the same context, the media office of the Colombian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Foreign Minister Omar Bula will visit "Israel" next Sunday to take part in the embassy opening ceremony, according to Agence France-Presse.
The move comes amid continued international controversy over the status of Jerusalem, as "Israel" has controlled East Jerusalem since 1967 and declared its annexation, while Palestinians insist it is the capital of their future state.
Several countries have previously moved their embassies to Jerusalem, including the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Fiji and Nauru, in addition to Somaliland.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella had announced in July his intention to open his country's embassy in Jerusalem, as part of his approach to strengthening relations with "Israel".
