Israel warns Brazil

Israel has warned Brazil that relations
will deteriorate unless it accepts the
former Israeli head of the West Bank
settlement program as ambassador.
The appointment was made four
months ago and
has still not been
approved by Brazil’s government.
The country has continuously failed to
give in to diplomatic pressure, leading
Israel to up the stakes and issue
threats.
Brazilian refusals have gone on since
August, when the political appointment
was made by Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu.
The main sticking point for Brazilian
opposition to the appointment is the
fact that Dani Dayan – the nominee –
lives in the occupied West Bank, as
well as being the former head of the
Council of Jewish Communities of
Judea and Samaria.
Like most of the international
community, Brazil’s leftist government
believes the building of Israeli
settlements on occupied Palestinian
land to be illegal. But condemnation at
all levels has not resulted in any
action on the part of Israel.
Reda Mansour, Israel’s previous
ambassador, left Brasilia last week,
and now the Israelis are warning that if
Dayan does not replace him, there will
be consequences for bilateral
relations.