Colombia has just withdrawn from South Africa’s “genocide” case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It’s a triumph for Israeli diplomacy, and a loss for the anti-Israel brigade at the ICJ. The main reason for that withdrawal is that the pro-Israel Abelardo de la Espriella has replaced the far-left anti-Israel Gustavo Petro as Colombia’s president. More about this dramatic change in Bogotá’s policy can be found here: “Colombia officially withdraws from South Africa’s ICJ genocide case against Israel,” by Mathilda Heller, Jerusalem Post, September 22, 2026:
Colombia has withdrawn from South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, the court announced Tuesday.
In a statement, the ICJ said Colombia informed the Court that it had decided to withdraw the Declaration of intervention that it had filed under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court on 5 April 2024 in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry then confirmed the withdrawal, but said the decision does not change Colombia’s status as a State Party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, nor does it affect the validity, scope or binding force of the international obligations assumed under that instrument.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar already mentioned the matter on Friday, thanking new Colombian President Abelardo De la Espriella for the “withdrawal from South Africa’s false and malicious lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ, which was made during the antisemitic Petro era.”…
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has not officially issued a public statement responding to Colombia’s formal withdrawal, but has previously said that it would not cause South Africa to drop its legal challenge.allenge.
What a difference a day makes, when that’s the day Gustavo Petro was booted out of office and his successor, the resonantly named Abelardo de la Espriella, took over. He immediately undid Petro’s antisemitic malevolence. He chose, inter alia, to withdraw from the South African “genocide” case at the ICJ, to restore diplomatic relations with Israel, to recognize Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, and to promise to move the Colombian Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. That’s what I’d call, in Gabo-fashion, magical realism.
Wellington says
If Latin America could ever get its act together, which means implementing democracy and capitalism both infused with a decided ethical sense, the potential of said region of the Earth is unbounded. May it occur, not only for Latin America’s sake but for all the world’s sake. Dealing with Israel as one of the great nations of the Earth is absolutely a step in the right direction. Hope it continues.
somehistory says
Even in these days of growing evil, some people are still moral and brave enough to do the right thing.