Israel backs out of spat with Brazil over settler named as envoy

[Judi Lynn]

Israel backs out of spat with Brazil over settler named as envoy

March 28, 2016 - 10:32:41 am
REUTERS/ RONEN ZVULUN

JERUSALEM: Israel reassigned its pick for ambassador to Brazil to a U.S. posting on Monday, backing off in a spat with Brasilia over the nominee's links to Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Brazil's left-leaning government, which has supported Palestinian statehood in recent years, had balked at accepting the appointment as envoy in August of former settler leader Dani Dayan. The previous Israeli ambassador stepped down in December.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had initially vowed to stand firm on Argentine-born Dayan's nomination - even at the cost of downgrading relations with Brazil - lest his rejection undermine the settlements, which most world powers deem illegal.

But Netanyahu said in a brief statement on Monday that Dayan would instead serve as consul-general in New York, a post that focuses Israeli outreach to American Jews and business sectors.

More:
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/middle-east/375970/israel-backs-out-of-spat-with-brazil-over-settler-named-as-envoy

LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141393702

[Judi Lynn]

1. Israel backs down in row with Brazil over ambassador

Israel backs down in row with Brazil over ambassador

Israel withdraws nomination of settler leader Dani Dayan as ambassador after Brasília refused to accept him

Peter Beaumont in Jerusalem
Monday 28 March 2016 04.37 EDT

Israel has backed down in a long-running and bitter diplomatic dispute with Brazil, withdrawing its nomination of a controversial settler leader as ambassador after Brasília refused to accept his credentials.

The seven-month long impasse over the planned appointment of Dani Dayan, a former chairman of the the West Bank Yesha settler council, came to an end on Monday when Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, who is also the country’s foreign minister, announced he would be appointed consul general in New York instead.

Rejection of a proposed ambassador is extremely rare and had drawn considerable attention to the Dayan case.

According to Israel’s deputy foreign minister late last year, the Dayan case was the first instance in which a proposed Israeli diplomat had been rejected for his “ideological” views.

More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/28/israel-backs-down-in-row-with-brazil-over-ambassador-dani-dayan