Brazil withdrew its ambassador to Israel on May 29 after months of tensions between the two countries over the Gaza war, the latest move by the South American country in response to Israel’s military operations.
The roots of this diplomatic rift can be traced back to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s stark criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which he has compared to the Holocaust. The response from Israel was swift and pointed, with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz summoning Brazil’s ambassador, Frederico Meyer, to the national Holocaust museum in Jerusalem for what was described as a public reprimand.
Meyer will now join Brazil’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva, serving as the country’s representative at the organization’s Disarmament Conference. The Brazilian embassy in Israel will continue operations under the leadership of chargé d’affaires Fábio Farias.
Although the withdrawal of Ambassador Meyer does not signify a full-scale diplomatic rupture between Brazil and Israel, the action is perceived as one of Brazil’s most pronounced rebukes of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
A pro-Israel group, the Israeli Confederation of Brazil, said on social media that it “regretted” the move by Brazil. “The Brazilian government’s unilateral measure moves us away from the Brazilian diplomatic tradition of balance and seeking dialogue, and prevents Brazil from exercising its desired role as mediator and protagonist in the Middle East,” it said.
The backdrop to this diplomatic shift includes the war in Gaza, now in its eighth month, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Israel’s attack has killed at least 36,096 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count.
Other Latin American countries have taken action against Israel. Earlier this month, Colombia broke diplomatic relations with Israel, and nations such as Bolivia and Belize have severed ties in the wake of the war. Additionally, Brazil’s foreign ministry welcomed this week’s formal recognition of a Palestinian state by Ireland, Norway and Spain. Brazil recognized a Palestinian state in 2010.
Relevant articles:
– Brazil permanently withdraws its ambassador from Israel, brazilreports.com, 06/02/2024
– Brazil withdraws ambassador to Israel after criticising Gaza war, The National, 05/30/2024
– Brazil’s president withdraws his country’s ambassador to Israel after criticizing the war in Gaza, KOB 4, 05/30/2024
– Brazil Recalls Ambassador to Israel, Atlas News, 05/30/2024
Glad you enjoyed above story, be sure to follow TrendyDigests on Microsoft Start.