Colombia has appointed its first ambassador to the Palestinian Authority, following its suspension of relations with Israel about a year ago and announcement to open an embassy in Ramallah. The appointed ambassador is Jorge Ivan Ospina, former mayor of Cali and a close associate of Colombian President Gustavo Petro - who has taken a harsh stance against Israel since the war began and frequently compares IDF operations in Gaza to Nazism. Ospina told AFP news agency that it remains unclear whether he will perform his duties from Ramallah or a neighboring country. "We will need to discuss with Israel and determine the necessary steps to enable the establishment of the Colombian embassy in Ramallah. We recognize that the Palestinian state and the State of Israel must coexist," he said.