Colombia says it will sever diplomatic relations with Israel

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he would sever diplomatic relations with Israel because of its “actions in Gaza.”

Mr. Petro had previously strongly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and requested to join South Africa's case accusing Israel of committing “genocide” at the International Court of Justice. “Here, before you, the government of change, the President of the Republic announces that we will sever diplomatic relations with the State of Israel tomorrow,” Mr. Petro told the crowd in Bogotá, which participated in a march on the occasion of International Workers’ Day. Supporting the social and economic reforms undertaken by Mr. Petro. He added: “Countries cannot stand idly by in the face of what is happening in Gaza.”

After the Colombian president's announcement, Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded by declaring that the leftist leader was “anti-Semitic and full of hatred.” “History will record,” Mr. Katz wrote in Mr. Katz concluded by saying: Relations between Colombia and Israel have always been warm, and no hate-filled and anti-Semitic president will change that.