Brazil rejects Israeli envoy as Israel declares Lula “not welcome” over Gaza remarks
Diplomatic relations between Brazil and Israel have worsened after Brazil refused to approve the appointment of Israel’s new designated ambassador.
In response, Israel withdrew the nomination and reaffirmed its decision to declare Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva persona non grata.
According to a Monday report by the Brazilian outlet Gazeta do Povo, Gali Dagan, formerly Israel’s ambassador to Colombia, did not receive approval from Brazilian authorities to assume his new role after the previous ambassador completed his term last week.
This move is the latest in a series of actions taken by President Lula’s administration, which has become increasingly hostile toward Israel since the war with Hamas began on October 7.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the deteriorating relationship in a statement. “Since October 7, Brazil has displayed a critical and hostile stance toward Israel, which intensified when its President compared Israel’s actions to those of the Nazis. In response, Israel declared Brazilian President Lula a persona non grata.”
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The statement continued, “After Brazil failed, contrary to custom, to respond to the request for approval of Ambassador Dagan, Israel withdrew the request, and relations between the two countries are now being conducted at a lower diplomatic level.”
The ministry also noted its continued deep ties with “the many circles of friends Israel has in Brazil.”
Last year, da Silva caused an uproar when he compared Israel’s actions in Gaza to those of Adolf Hitler against Jews during World War II.
“What is happening in the Gaza Strip is not war. This is genocide. It is not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It is a war between a trained military against women and children,” he said.
“What is happening in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian people has not happened at almost any other time in history. In fact, it only happened once; when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”
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Following these comments, Brazil’s ambassador to Israel was summoned for a reprimand and informed that da Silva was considered persona non grata.
Da Silva then announced that the Brazilian ambassador to Israel would be recalled and that Brazil would summon Israel’s ambassador for a reprimand.
Despite the backlash, the Brazilian President doubled down on his rhetoric, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “What the Israeli government is doing is not war, it is genocide. Children and women are being murdered.”
This stands in stark contrast to relations with former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was a strong supporter of Israel.
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