Hello friends! I hope your day is going well. Today I want to tell you about the Colombia embassy Jerusalem story. Pakistan and 17 other countries are unhappy with Colombia’s new embassy in Jerusalem. Let me explain the full story in very simple words.
The Colombia Embassy Jerusalem News: What Happened
Colombia is a country in South America. This week, Colombia opened a new embassy in the city of Jerusalem, as reported by The News. An embassy is a special office that a country opens in another country. It is like a small piece of home in a faraway land.
But Jerusalem is not a normal city. It is a city that is very special to Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Its future is still not decided by the world. Many countries say that no one should open an embassy in Jerusalem until the world agrees on who Jerusalem belongs to.
Because of this, 18 Muslim countries, including Pakistan, came together on Friday and said they are unhappy with Colombia’s decision. They asked Colombia to think again and change its decision.
Which 18 Countries Spoke Together?
The Colombia embassy Jerusalem story brought 18 countries together. The countries that signed the joint statement are: Pakistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, and Turkiye.
The top leaders who deal with other countries signed one statement together. Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Sajjad Haider Khan, shared this news in his weekly press talk in Islamabad.
What Did the Statement Say?
The statement said that Colombia’s decision breaks the rules of the United Nations. Let me explain.
The United Nations Security Council made two important decisions about Jerusalem long ago: Resolution 476 in 1980 and Resolution 478 in 1980. These decisions say that no country should try to change the legal or historical status of Jerusalem. They also say that countries should not open their embassies in Jerusalem.
The 18 countries said that any step to accept Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has no legal effect. They used the words “null and void,” which means it has no value in the eyes of international law.
They asked the government of Colombia to think again and take back its decision. In their view, Colombia should follow the rules of international law and should not do anything that hurts the rights of the Palestinian people. They also said the Palestinian people have the right to their own independent country, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Why Is Jerusalem So Sensitive?
Let me explain why this city makes the whole world emotional.
Jerusalem has the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is one of the holiest places in Islam. It is the third holiest place after Makkah and Madinah. For Jews, the city has the Western Wall, their holiest place. For Christians, it has the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
After the 1967 war, Israel took control of East Jerusalem. The United Nations and most countries of the world do not accept this. They say the future of Jerusalem must be decided through talks between Israel and Palestine — through what is called the “two-state solution.” That means two countries, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace.
This is why opening an embassy in Jerusalem is not a small step. It looks like accepting one side’s claim before the talks are finished. That is what the 18 countries are unhappy about.
How Many Countries Have Embassies in Jerusalem?
Only a small number of countries have moved their embassies to Jerusalem. The biggest one is the United States. During his first term, US President Donald Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem and said the city was Israel’s capital. After that, only a few small countries followed: Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Nauru. Kosovo and Somaliland, which are not members of the United Nations, also opened what they call embassies there.
Colombia’s step this week puts it in this small group. Earlier this year, in May, Pakistan and 13 other countries also spoke against a similar step by Somaliland, calling it “illegal and unacceptable.”
Both Sides of the Story
To be fair, let me also tell you what Colombia may think. Colombia has the right to decide where it opens its own embassy. Countries make their own choices about how to deal with other countries. But the 18 countries say that when a city is under UN decisions and its future is still open, every country should respect those UN rules.
This is how talks between countries work, friends. Countries disagree, they write statements, and they ask each other to change decisions. It is like a big family discussion, but at the level of nations.
Why the Colombia Embassy Jerusalem Move Matters for Pakistan
Pakistan has always supported the rights of the Palestinian people. Pakistan does not have relations with Israel. So when a country opens an embassy in Jerusalem, Pakistan sees it as a step against the Palestinian cause. That is why Pakistan joined this joint statement quickly and strongly.
This story is also connected to other news I covered this week. Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, and more than 10 other countries walked out of a summit in Baku when Israel’s president started speaking. And Pakistan’s Foreign Office also explained its careful position between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Muslim world is speaking with one voice on these issues right now.
What Happens Next in the Colombia Embassy Jerusalem Story?
The 18 countries have asked Colombia to reverse its decision. Now we wait to see what Colombia does. Colombia may ignore the statement, or it may talk with these countries. In world politics, such statements are the first step. Talks and meetings usually come next.
The United Nations may also discuss this. For now, the important thing is that the Muslim world has shown it is united on the question of Jerusalem. I will keep watching this story here on Pak Unfiltered and tell you what happens next in simple words.
Friends, world news can feel far away, but it shapes our lives. When countries speak together, small voices become a big voice. That is what happened this week. Take care.
Do you have questions about the Colombia embassy Jerusalem story? Write to us on our Contact Us page — I read every message and I will try my best to answer you.
