BOGOTA—“This decision is in complete contradiction to the good relations between Israel and Colombia, and the close ties between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the new president of Colombia, Ivan Duque,’’ said the Israeli embassy in Bogota in a statement following the decision of the government of outgoing Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to recognize a Palestinian state.
‘’When we have a good relationship, we expect to be warned about decisions like this or changes in policy, so we were very surprised,” the embassy said.
The decision to recognize “Palestine” was taken on August 3 but the policy shift was only announced on August 8, after the inauguration of the new government of Ivan Duque.
“I would like to inform you that in the name of the government of Colombia, President Juan Manuel Santos has decided to recognize Palestine as a free, independent and sovereign state,” said a letter by Manuel Santos.
“Just as the Palestinian people have a right to constitute an independent state, Israel has a right to live in peace alongside its neighbors,” the letter said.
The new Foreign Minister, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, said : “In view of possible omissions that could arise from the way in which this decision was made by the outgoing president, the government will carefully examine the implications and will act in accordance with international law.”
Last week Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu cancelled a scheduled trip to Colombia at the last minute, saying he wanted to oversee developments in the south of Israel in real time. He had been scheduled to attend the inauguration of President Ivan Duque and to hold meetings with several Latin American leaders.
Duque has said he wants to improve his country’s relationship with Israel and even considered moving its embassy to Jerusalem earlier this year.
Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) President Morton A. Klein and Chairman Mark Levenson urged the Jewish community ‘’to call and write to the Colombian Embassy and Consulate in the U.S. to urge them to rescind the previous administration’s last minute decision to recognize a terrorist Palestinian state.’’
‘They said : ‘’Colombia’s Jews are terrified by the implications of recognition, which will embolden attacks on Colombia’s Jewish community. Colombia’s Jews are already being subjected to attacks from the BDS (boycott-divestment and sanctions) movement.’’