Why has Brazil recalled ambassador to Israel? Brazil has escalated its diplomatic dispute with Israel by recalling its ambassador, a diplomatic source revealed to AFP on Wednesday.
This move amplifies the tensions between the two nations over the protracted war in Gaza.
The conflict, nearing its eighth month, has strained Israel’s relationships with several countries, including Brazil.
Why has Brazil recalled ambassador to Israel
In February, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel’s government of committing genocide, a statement that provoked a vehement response from Israel, leading to Lula being declared persona non grata.
“I want to say loud and clear: The Prime Minister of Israel is carrying out a genocide against women and children. This is a historical fact.”
—President Lula of Brazil
— sarah (@sahouraxo) February 28, 2024
Tensions were further inflamed when Israel summoned Brazil’s ambassador, Frederico Meyer, for a meeting at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.
During the meeting, Meyer was publicly reprimanded in Hebrew without the presence of a translator, an action that a Brazilian source described as a “humiliation” contributing to his recall.
Meyer will not return to Israel and will be reassigned as Brazil’s representative to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, according to an announcement in Wednesday’s official gazette.
Diplomat Fabio Farias will now represent Brazil in Israel.
Israel’s foreign ministry has stated it has not yet received an official notification of Meyer’s recall and plans to summon Farias for a meeting on the matter.
The diplomatic fallout occurs amidst a growing global outcry over the conflict in Gaza, which began on October 7 with a Hamas attack on southern Israel that resulted in 1,189 deaths, mostly civilians.
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Israel’s subsequent offensive has led to the deaths of at least 36,171 people in Gaza, primarily civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
President Lula, a prominent figure advocating for the global south and currently presiding over the G20, has faced domestic criticism from the far right but has found support within Latin America.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has notably severed ties with Israel in solidarity.
Both Brazil and Colombia support South Africa’s complaint to the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention with its Gaza assault.
The conflict has also reignited international calls for Palestinian statehood.
On Tuesday, Norway, Spain, and Ireland formally recognized a State of Palestine, diverging from the traditional Western stance that such recognition should result from a negotiated peace with Israel.
Israel condemned these recognitions as a “reward” for Hamas.
The United Nations had warned that up to 1.4 million people were sheltering in Rafah, with one million subsequently fleeing since the offensive began on May 7, according to UNRWA.
As Brazil recalls ambassador to Israel, President Lula expressed profound sorrow after the Israeli army announced it had recovered the bodies of three hostages, including an Israeli-Brazilian citizen, Michel Nisenbaum.
Lula reaffirmed his commitment to efforts aimed at freeing all hostages and achieving a ceasefire and lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.
