Colombia’s decision to withdraw from South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), followed by the opening of its embassy in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday, has drawn criticism from former Latin American ambassadors, who see the moves as a significant shift in Bogotá’s foreign policy, particularly its stance on Palestine.

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had informed the Court of its decision to withdraw the declaration of intervention filed on 5th April 2024 under Article 63 of the ICJ Statute.

The move marks a reversal of the position taken by former President Gustavo Petro, whose government cut diplomatic ties with Israel in May 2024 over its military offensive in Gaza and backed South Africa’s case at the ICJ.

The ministry explained that the decision was made under the president’s constitutional authority to manage foreign relations, while emphasising that Colombia remains committed to its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Speaking to MEMO, Roberto Mayorga Lorca, professor of Economic Law and former Chilean ambassador to the Philippines, criticised the Colombian government’s change of position. “The shift by Colombia’s current government regarding the genocide in Gaza has been regrettable,” Mayorga said.

He argued that since President Abelardo de la Espriella took office in August, Bogotá had moved away from condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza, to adopting what he described as a position of “complicity or concealment”.

Mayorga identified four major developments behind the policy shift: the restoration of diplomatic relations with Israel, the relocation of Colombia’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the lifting of restrictions on exports to Israel, and the withdrawal of Colombia’s intervention in the ICJ proceedings.

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Mayorga said the change reflected Bogotá’s increasing alignment with US foreign policy. “The explanation for this shift........

© Middle East Monitor