Brazil’s government has delayed approving Israel’s Gali Dagan as ambassador, heightening tensions with Netanyahu’s administration. The agrément request remains unanswered, suggesting a potential downgrade in diplomatic ties if denied. The situation reflects growing criticisms between both governments regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Brazil’s President Lula’s administration has been withholding approval for Israel to appoint a new ambassador for the past two months, a situation that intensifies tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. In late January, Israel submitted a formal request for agrément to send Gali Dagan as the new ambassador to Brazil, yet as of Wednesday, February 19, the Brazilian government has not responded to this request, which is customary when opposition exists.
The lack of response indicates that if approval is ultimately denied, Brazil will downgrade its diplomatic relations with Israel, with Dagan being replaced by a chargé d’affaires. Itamaraty, Brazil’s foreign ministry, has described such processes as “routine and confidential until agrément is granted,” thereby refraining from providing further comments. The Israeli embassy in Brasília has not released any statements regarding the matter.
Tensions have escalated between the Lula and Netanyahu administrations, particularly surrounding Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have drawn criticism from both governments. Gali Dagan, a seasoned diplomat with a career in Israel’s foreign ministry since 2006, has previously held notable positions, including deputy chief of mission in Lima, Peru, and counselor in Israel’s delegations to the European Union and NATO.
The ongoing withholding of approval for the Israeli ambassador reflects a significant diplomatic strain between Brazil and Israel under their respective leaders, President Lula and Prime Minister Netanyahu. As Brazil remains silent on the agrément request for Gali Dagan, tensions are likely to deepen, especially following recent criticisms regarding military actions in Gaza.
Original Source: www1.folha.uol.com.br
