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The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement Wednesday condemning and denouncing the Colombian government’s decision to open an embassy in occupied Jerusalem. According to the ministry the move constitutes a blatant violation of international law and directly infringes on the city’s legal and historical status. The ministry stressed that such actions contradict the established international position on Jerusalem which has been affirmed through multiple United Nations resolutions over decades.
The ministry’s statement renewed a call on the international community including the United Nations Security Council and all concerned parties to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities. It urged immediate action to halt Israel’s illegal policies that aim to impose new realities by force. The ministry warned that these policies undermine prospects for a just and lasting peace in the region according to its assessment.
In the statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Saudi Arabia’s firm position that any unilateral changes to Jerusalem’s status lack legitimacy under international law. The ministry noted that the Colombian decision runs counter to global consensus maintained by the vast majority of nations which continue to locate their embassies in Tel Aviv rather than Jerusalem. Data from the United Nations shows that Security Council Resolution 478 adopted in 1980 explicitly called for the withdrawal of diplomatic missions from the city.
Saudi Arabia has consistently opposed measures that alter the pre-1967 status of Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories the ministry’s previous statements on similar issues indicate. The Kingdom’s stance aligns with the broader Arab Peace Initiative first proposed in 2002 which conditions normalization on Israeli withdrawal from occupied lands. Officials have repeatedly emphasized this framework in response to diplomatic shifts by various countries.
The condemnation arrives amid ongoing regional tensions that have seen increased focus on Jerusalem’s status by both Israeli authorities and Palestinian representatives. The ministry’s statement avoided specifying details of Colombia’s announcement but framed the embassy decision as part of a pattern that entrenches division rather than advancing negotiations. International organizations including the United Nations have documented over 70 years of resolutions addressing the city’s disputed sovereignty.
Further diplomatic efforts are expected to address the implications of the Colombian move as Saudi Arabia continues to engage with global partners on Palestinian statehood issues the ministry has indicated in related briefings. The statement serves as the latest in a series of Saudi positions issued through official channels this year on matters concerning occupied territories.
