Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in full celebration mode at a Foreign Ministry reception marking the opening of Colombia's embassy in Jerusalem, which makes Colombia the tenth country to place its embassy in the city. Netanyahu called the milestone "the minyan," a Jewish term for a group of ten, and credited President Donald Trump with starting the trend by moving the American embassy during his first term. He said Israeli-Colombian friendship was derailed in recent years, blaming a "global woke alliance" for souring ties across several Latin American countries, and he insisted that relationship is now coming back. Netanyahu also said he spoke by phone with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, sent him warm regards, and revealed that he and his wife Sara want to visit Bogota and the new embassy soon.

Netanyahu said the partnership rests on shared interests and what he called a common Judeo-Christian heritage, and he pointed to future cooperation in security, agriculture, water, and artificial intelligence. He framed the moment as a clash between civilization and what he described as a "death cult," promising Israel is ready to fight "the barbarians" alongside friends like Colombia. In a showpiece moment, he described the map in his office, which he now wants expanded to include Latin America, Africa, and Asia, alongside a model Merkava tank and F-35 that he calls power and a Bible that he calls faith. The move comes after Colombia restored relations with Israel in August following a two-year freeze under the previous government, but it remains controversial, since most countries keep their embassies in Tel Aviv, Palestinians also claim Jerusalem as a capital, and protesters rallied against the decision in Bogota. The big question now is whether other nations will follow Colombia, with Israeli officials already hinting that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is next.