BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the establishment of an embassy in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, as announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo on Wednesday.
“President Petro has given the instruction to set up a Colombian embassy in Ramallah. That is our next step,” Murillo informed reporters.
This decision follows Colombia’s withdrawal of its diplomats from Israel and the severing of relations with the country on May 2, citing Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide.”
President Petro had initially announced plans to open an embassy in Palestine on October 20 of the previous year, during a meeting with Israeli Ambassador Gali Dagan and Palestinian Ambassador Raouf Almalki.
Murillo mentioned that Petro also convened a meeting of leaders in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where they agreed to implement strategies to ensure Palestine’s recognition as a full state by the United Nations.
“We are confident that more countries will recognize Palestine. This is not against Israel or the Jewish people,” stated Murillo. “The United Nations agreed, in the context of the Oslo agreements, that a two-state solution is necessary, and for that, Palestine must be recognized as a full state.”
The announcement coincided with Spain, Ireland, and Norway’s joint declaration that they will recognize the State of Palestine on May 28. Colombia had previously recognized Palestine as a state on August 3, 2018, during the administration of Juan Manuel Santos.–News Desk