Brazil dismisses Bolsonaro-era ambassador to ‘Israel’ in support for the Palestinian cause 

In a step that supports the Palestinian cause, the new Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, dismissed his country’s Ambassador to Israel, Gerson Frietas, who was appointed by former President Jair Bolsonaro in 2020.

Israeli media described the decision of dismissal as a surprise to the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, as it reflects a change in Brazil’s policy towards “Israel”.

He noted that former President Bolsonaro, during his term, significantly changed his country’s foreign policy and took a more pro-Israeli stance than his predecessors and also changed the pattern of his country’s voting at the time in the United Nations institutions on the Palestinian issue.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva confirmed, during his meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki on the sidelines of his inauguration ceremony, that his country will stand firmly in support for the Palestinian right, and will work for the restoration of Palestine’s freedom and independence within a sovereign state on the line of June 4, 1967.

He also reaffirmed his principled commitment to support the Palestinian cause and his country’s commitment to support the efforts of the State of Palestine in all international forums, recalling his visit to Palestine years ago.

For his part, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said upon the formation of the new government: “During the term of Lula da Silva’s government, which assumed power at the beginning of this month, Brazil will strengthen its cooperation with Arab countries, foremost of which is Palestine.

Inas Abdulkareem