Brazil rejects ‘Israeli’ ambassador in new diplomatic breakdown

Diplomatic relations between Brazil and 'Israel' have reached a new low after Brazil rejected the appointment of Gali Dagan as new ambassador to Brazil, prompting ‘Israel’ to downgrade bilateral ties.

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The move is the latest escalation in a series of tensions fueled by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's public criticism of ‘Israel's’ military’s aggression on Gaza.

Instead of a formal refusal, Brazil employed a silent veto, a diplomatic maneuver of simply not responding to ‘Israel's’ request for formal approval.

This silence was interpreted by ‘Israel’ as a clear rejection, leading its Foreign Ministry to formally withdraw Dagan’s nomination and declare that relations would be conducted "at a lower diplomatic level".

The diplomatic standoff is a consequence of a deepening rift that began with the Gaza aggression on October 7, 2023.

President Lula has repeatedly condemned ‘Israel's’ actions, going so far as to compare them to the Holocaust, a comment that led 'Israel' to declare him "persona non grata".

Brazil's foreign policy has shifted dramatically under Lula, moving away from the staunchly pro-‘Israel’ stance of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, and aligning with other Latin American nations that have also increased pressure on ‘Israel’.