The diplomatic situation between Israel and Brazil has become tense after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recalled his ambassador from Tel Aviv, Frederico Meyer, on Monday evening, hours after the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned and reprimanded him.
The storm began when Lula accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, comparing its military campaign to Hitler’s treatment of Jews during World War II. Lula stated last Sunday to reporters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the African Union summit, “What’s happening in Gaza is genocide, not a war between soldiers but between a highly prepared army and women and children, something unprecedented in history. In fact, it did happen: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz summoned the Brazilian ambassador the next day, reprimanded him, and invited him to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum.
At the museum, Katz said, “I invited you to a place that more than anything else bears witness to what the Nazis and Hitler did to the Jews, including members of my family. The Brazilian president, who compared Israel’s just war against Hamas to the genocidal acts committed by the Nazis and Hitler against the Jews, is a disgrace and a serious anti-Semitic attack.”
Katz continued, addressing the ambassador, “We will not forget and will not forgive. This is a serious anti-Semitic attack. On behalf of myself and the citizens of the State of Israel, inform President Lula that he is an unwelcome person in Israel until he retracts his statements.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also strongly reacted to Lula’s comments, stating through a press release, “By comparing Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas, a terrorist organization committing genocide, to the Holocaust, President da Silva insulted the memory of six million Jews killed by the Nazis. He should be ashamed of himself.”
Following Netanyahu’s statement, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador in Brasilia, Zohar Zonshain, and reprimanded him. It is expected that Israel will summon him for consultation.
