Brazil recalled its ambassador to Israel and will not immediately appoint a replacement, a diplomatic source told AFP on Wednesday, ratcheting up tensions between the two countries over Israel’s war in Gaza.
Relations between Brazil and Israel have soured over the conflict, with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accusing the Israeli government of “genocide” in February.
Israel reacted furiously, declaring the Brazilian leader “persona non grata.”
Israel had previously summoned the South American country’s Ambassador Frederico Meyer to a meeting at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial center in Jerusalem, which the Brazilian source said “was a humiliation to which (Meyer) was subjected.”
In response, Brazil recalled Meyer for consultations, and in turn summoned Israel’s representative in Brasilia.
The source said that conditions had not been met for Meyer “to return” to Israel.
In the meantime, the Brazilian representation in Israel will be led by diplomat Fabio Farias.
With AFP
