Brazil also recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv for “consultations” after Israel summoned Brazil’s envoy and declared LI Lula da Silva persona non grata over his remarks on Sunday, demanding an apology, Brazil’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“Given the seriousness of the Israeli government’s statements this morning, Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira […] summoned Israeli ambassador Daniel Zonshine to come to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, the report states. – He also summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Tel Aviv, Frederico Meyer, for consultations. He’s leaving for Brazil tomorrow.”
The row erupted on Sunday when LI Lula da Silva said the conflict in Gaza “is not a war but a genocide” and compared it to the period “when (Adolf) Hitler decided to kill the Jews”.
Israel then summoned the Brazilian ambassador to a meeting with Foreign Minister Israel Katz at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem.
“He is persona non grata in the state of Israel until he retracts his statements and apologizes,” said I. Katz about the Brazilian president.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said LI Lula da Silva “crossed a red line” with his comments.
Leftist veteran LI Lula da Silva, 78, has also faced backlash at home for his remarks, which were delivered during a press conference on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa.
The Brazil-Israel Institute called his comments vulgar and warned they could fuel anti-Semitism.
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2024-05-04 02:03:11