Alwaght- Brazil said it summoned the Israeli ambassador as a row unfolded after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva compared Israeli military genocidal war on Gaza to the Holocaust.
The Brazilian foreign ministry said in a statement that Brazil had also recalled its own ambassador from Tel Aviv for "consultations," after Israel summoned the Brazilian envoy and declared Lula "persona non grata" over his remarks Sunday, demanding an apology.
"Given the gravity of the statements this morning by the government of Israel, Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira... has summoned the Israeli ambassador, Daniel Zonshine, to report today to the foreign ministry," it said.
"He also recalled the Brazilian ambassador in Tel Aviv, Frederico Meyer, for consultations. He will depart for Brazil tomorrow."
According to a diplomatic source, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Israeli ambassador Zonshine had a "harsh, but appropriate" conversation, as Vieira "demonstrated dissatisfaction" with the treatment of Meyer and Lula over the situation.
