Colombia Quake Response and Gulf Frustration
An 80-person Israeli delegation arrives in Colombia as Gulf states question US basing.
Colombia Quake Response and Gulf Frustration — An Israeli delegation named 'Brit Reim' ('covenant of friends'), numbering about 80 people, traveled to Colombia this week, where a devastating earthquake killed 132 people and prompted a state of emergency.[^1] IDF spokesman Roni Kaplan said Israel's experience in rescuing people from under rubble will be applied to help Colombians.[^2] Colombian President Gustavo Petro reaffirmed the partnership, concluding his address with the call: "Colombia and Israel are always friends and allies! Strong for the Homeland!"[^3] The delegation's arrival underscores a rare moment of bilateral warmth, even as Israel's regional posture remains contested. Meanwhile, frustration with Washington simmers in the Gulf. A source from one of the Gulf states said: "Trump started the war and we are paying the price," and anger towards the US is at its peak since February.[^4] Some countries have begun discussing whether it makes sense to continue hosting large American military installations, with a Western diplomat noting that even before the war, American forces were not welcomed with enthusiasm, but now their very necessity is in question. The juxtaposition is stark: Israel deploys soft power in Latin America while the US faces hard questions about its military footprint in the Gulf. Elsewhere, the IDF reported three soldiers seriously wounded in a Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon on Saturday, with the military striking targets in response. The incident adds to a pattern of exchanges along the northern border, even as diplomatic efforts continue. For now, the Colombia mission offers a counter-narrative of cooperation, but the Gulf's unease suggests the region's alliances are far from settled. Likud primaries and Burg's return shake Israeli politics — Avraham (Avrum) Burg, 71, announced today (Saturday) that he will join the party "Makom LeKulanu" and run for the Knesset on its behalf.[^1] The former Knesset speaker, who once led the Labor Party, defined the settlement enterprise as "daily crimes against innocent Palestinians" by "wild and cruel settlers."[^1] His return—after helping establish a similar party called "All Its Citize