South American nation becomes only the second country in the world to recognize the Golan as Israeli territory — and Colombia is also moving its embassy to Jerusalem!
By Nosson Shulman, Licensed Israeli Tour Guide at VIP Israel Tours | Creator of Authentic Virtual Tours (watch free sneak preview videos)
Photo Credit: Shmulik Almany/GPO
In a major diplomatic victory for Israel, Colombia has officially recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights! The announcement came Monday, just three days after Colombia’s new President Abelardo de la Espriella took office. Colombia is now only the second country in the world, after the United States, to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The United States made that historic decision in 2019 under President Donald Trump.
And there is much more to this story. Colombia is also restoring full diplomatic relations with Israel and moving its embassy to Jerusalem. The new government has promised to carry out the embassy move in 2026, reversing plans by the previous government to establish a diplomatic mission to the Palestinian Authority instead.
Colombia Just Changed Governments
For the past four years, Colombia was led by left-wing President Gustavo Petro, who became the country’s first leftist president. Petro became one of Israel’s strongest critics in Latin America, and in May 2024 he announced that Colombia would break diplomatic relations with Israel over the war against Hamas in Gaza. His government continued taking a strongly anti-Israel position and supported South Africa’s antisemitic case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
But Colombian voters chose a very different direction in 2026. Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative candidate who campaigned on much closer relations with the United States and Israel, won the presidency and took office on August 7.
The change has been fast. The new government is restoring relations with Israel, strengthening cooperation, cancelling plans for a Palestinian diplomatic mission in Ramallah, moving the Colombian embassy to Jerusalem — and now recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Why Does the Golan Matter So Much?
The Colombian government specifically pointed to the security importance of the Golan Heights, and it’s easy to understand why. The Golan is high ground overlooking northern Israel and the Sea of Galilee. Before Israel captured the area from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, Syrian forces were positioned on the Golan and regularly fired at Israeli communities below.go
Control of the Golan gives Israel a major defensive advantage along its northern border. After everything Israel has experienced since October 7, 2023, the importance of defensible borders has become even clearer.
But the Golan is about much more than security. The Jewish connection to the Golan goes back thousands of years.
The Golan Is in the Bible
The Golan Heights is part of the area the Bible calls Bashan. After the Israelites conquered the land east of the Jordan River, Moses gave Bashan to the half-tribe of Manasseh. The Book of Joshua specifically mentions Golan as one of the Cities of Refuge and as a city belonging to the Levites.
Photo Credit: Yeshivat Har Etzion
In fact, the name “Golan” itself comes from the biblical city of Golan. So when we talk about the Jewish connection to the Golan, we are not talking about something that began in 1967. The connection goes back to biblical times.
The Archaeology Proves It
The Jewish history of the Golan can still be seen in the archaeological remains scattered throughout the region. Archaeologists have identified more than 30 ancient synagogues in the Golan, dating mainly from the Roman and Byzantine periods. These were evidence of established Jewish communities that lived in the area, built homes, raised families and maintained yeshivas (places of advanced Torah Studies) and synagogues.
Among the best-known sites are the ancient synagogue at Gamla, which dates back to the Second Temple period, as well as synagogues at Katzrin, Ein Nashut and Umm el-Qanatir. Archaeologists have found Jewish inscriptions, menorah designs and other Jewish symbols throughout the region, and the discoveries are still continuing.
In 2025, archaeologists uncovered the remains of another ancient synagogue in the Yehudiya Nature Reserve, dating back approximately 1,500 years. The Jewish connection to the Golan isn’t just written in ancient books. It is built into the stones of the land.
A Complete Turnaround
That makes Colombia’s decision even more interesting. Just a few years ago, Colombia’s government was breaking relations with Israel. Today, Colombia’s new government is doing almost the exact opposite.
The government is restoring diplomatic relations, rebuilding ties with Israel, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and moving its embassy to Jerusalem. This is not a small change. It is a complete foreign-policy turnaround.
The new president has also promised much closer relations with the United States and Israel. For Israel, having a friendly government in Bogotá is important, while Colombia also stands to benefit from Israel’s experience in security, intelligence, technology and the fight against terrorism and organized crime.
Jerusalem and a Growing Diplomatic Shift
The embassy move makes this story even more significant. Colombia plans to move its embassy to Jerusalem in 2026, making it one of the few countries to place its embassy in Israel’s capital. Together with its recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Colombia is sending a clear message: the Golan Heights belongs to the Jewish people, and Jerusalem is Israel’s capital.
Colombia is now the second country, after the United States, to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. For Israel, this is about much more than diplomacy. The Golan is vital to Israel’s security, but its Jewish connection goes back to biblical times.
After years of hostility under Colombia’s previous left-wing government, Colombia is once again choosing friendship with Israel — joining a growing regional shift that has already seen Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay move their embassies to Jerusalem, while Argentina has committed to making the move in 2026.
Colombia’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights is another major step in the growing friendship between Israel and Latin America.
Inspired to experience Golan for yourself? See a sample private Golan tour itinerary.
Nosson Shulman is a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel, specializing in Private Biblical tours. To help people experience Israel from anywhere in the world, he created an Israel virtual tour video series. featuring Jerusalem and Hebron through immersive guided tours. Watch a free sneak preview of his Jerusalem Virtual Tour and Hebron Virtual Tour. To view sample Israel tour itineraries or inquire about private Israel tours with a personalized itinerary for your next trip to Israel, visit VIP Israel Tours.
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