Tension between Israel and Brazil after the rejection of a new ambassador appointment
August 26, 2025140 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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In a new diplomatic escalation, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced yesterday, Monday, the downgrading of relations with Brazil, following Brazil's refusal to approve the appointment of Gali Dagan as Israel's new ambassador in the capital, Brasília.
The Times of Israel reported today, Tuesday, that Brazil had not responded to the request for Dagan's accreditation for a long time, prompting Israel to officially withdraw the nomination and lower diplomatic representation between the two countries to a lower level.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated in its announcement:
"The critical and hostile path that Brazil has taken towards Israel since October 7, 2023, has significantly escalated, especially after the controversial statements made by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who compared the Israeli military operation in Gaza to the actions of the Nazis during World War II, in a clear reference to the Holocaust."
Israel considered these statements a severe insult, and in response, then Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared that da Silva was a persona non grata, and summoned the Brazilian ambassador to Tel Aviv, Frederico Meyer, to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, in a move described as an attempt to publicly embarrass the Brazilian government.
In turn, Brazil considered this step humiliating, and summoned its ambassador Meyer back to Brasília for consultations, which deepened the tension between the two sides.
In light of this stalemate, the Israeli Foreign Ministry clarified in its statement that relations with Brazil are currently being managed at a lower diplomatic level than usual, but emphasized at the same time the continuation of communication with "the many circles of friends of Israel within Brazil," according to the text of the statement.
It is worth noting that the tension between the two countries dates back to their differing positions on the war in Gaza, which erupted in October 2023, and the subsequent sharp criticisms from the Brazilian president against Israeli policies.
