To avoid any confusion that might be caused by the title of this article, we're not talking about Columbia University rejecting any association with the nation of Israel. This story deals with the nation of Colombia. Yesterday, that country's president, Gustavo Petro, announced that he will be severing diplomatic ties with Israel in sympathy with the the terrorists of Hamas. It's unclear how much Petro actually knows about the current affairs in the Middle East, however. He made reference to Israel's "president" being "genocidal." But it seems unlikely that he was referring to Israeli President Isaac Herzog since Herzog exerts no control over the country's military. Petro was probably trying to launch an accusation against Bibi Netanyahu, the Prime Minister, but simply became confused. (Times of Israel)

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Wednesday his country will cut diplomatic ties with Israel, describing the country’s leader as “genocidal” over the war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza.

“Tomorrow, diplomatic relations with the State of Israel will be severed… for having a genocidal president,” Petro told a May Day rally in Bogota. It was unclear if he had meant to refer to President Isaac Herzog, who serves in a largely symbolic role, or to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has directed the war effort.

In Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Israel Katz fired back that the leftist leader was “antisemitic and full of hatred.”

Here is the response from Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz. (You can click the "translate" link for the English version.)

El presidente de Colombia prometió premiar a los asesinos y violadores de Hamás - y hoy cumplió su promesa.

La historia recordará que Gustavo Petro @petrogustavo decidió ponerse del lado de los monstruos más despreciables conocidos por la humanidad que quemaron bebés, asesinaron…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 1, 2024

Seeing Gustavo Petro make this sort of move probably shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. He is about as far left as one could imagine a foreign leader to be. He would probably fit in just as well with the student body at Columbia University as he does with the people of his home nation of Colombia. He rose from the ranks of the left-wing M-19 armed guerilla movement. He was arrested in 1985 on charges of illegal weapons possession and served 18 months in prison. And now he is somehow the President of Colombia and he's criticizing Israel. You really can't make things like this up.

Petro's position marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two countries and he may be cutting off his nose to spite his face. Israel and Colombia have enjoyed close diplomatic ties for decades, with Israel providing generous foreign aid to Colombia's government and selling them the majority of the military equipment used by its armed forces. Of course, that relationship had already started to tank shortly after October 7 when Petro compared the IDF to the Nazis.

Petro's verbal attacks on Israel also stand in marked contrast to the position taken by his predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos. Santos had maintained close ties to Israel and was a regular guest of Benjamin Netanyahu. Of course, Juan Santos was considerably more conservative and his party stood opposed to Petro's M-19 coalition. He also strived to maintain good relations with the United States, once being hosted by Donald Trump at the White House, though their relationship took some rocky turns later on.

We're left to wonder why Petro would launch such an attack on Israel without similarly criticizing Joe Biden, particularly when Biden's own voters protest him and call him "Genocide Joe." Of course, perhaps it's not that much of a mystery. America provides millions of dollars in foreign aid to Colombia in addition to shipments of food, medical supplies, and other humanitarian resources. I suppose Petro is smart enough not to bite the hand that feeds him, even if he comes across as looking totally hypocritical.