Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday recalled his ambassador after months of tension between his country and Israel over the war in Gaza. The move was reported in Brazil’s official gazette. There was no immediate response from Israel. Lula has repeatedly criticized Israel’s invasion of Gaza. Earlier this year, he compared the Gaza war to the Holocaust.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Kats had publicly expressed his displeasure by calling the Brazilian ambassador to the National Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. After this, Lula recalled Brazilian ambassador Frederico Meyer. After Wednesday’s action, tensions between the two countries and bitterness in political relations have emerged. Brazil has an embassy in Israel, but the post of ambassador has become vacant.
According to a Brazilian Foreign Ministry official familiar with the matter, Brazil recalled its ambassador in response to Coats’ move and the fact that no positive changes have occurred since that event. Meyer has been transferred to Geneva and will join Brazil’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
FIRST PUBLISHED : May 29, 2024, 23:26 IST