Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. | Photo: AP
Brasilia: Brazil has increased tensions with Israel over its war in Gaza by recalling its ambassador to Israel and refusing to name a successor right away, a diplomatic source told AFP on Wednesday. Due to the conflict, Brazil and Israel's relations have deteriorated.
In February, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused the Israeli government of "genocide." Israel angrily responded, designating the president of Brazil as "persona non grata.”
The ambassador of South America, Frederico Meyer, had earlier been called by Israel to a meeting at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Centre in Jerusalem, AFP reported.
According to the Brazilian source, this encounter "was a humiliation to which (Meyer) was subjected." Brazil responded by calling Meyer back for talks, which prompted Israel's envoy to Brasilia to be summoned.
Conditions for Meyer "to return" to Israel, according to the source, had not been met. In the interim, Ambassador Fabio Farias will serve as the head of Brazil's delegation in Israel.