Israel-Brazil diplomatic relations sink to new low after rejection of Israeli envoys

Israel’s diplomatic relations with Brazil appear headed toward their lowest point in decades after Brazilian authorities reportedly rejected the appointment of Vivian Eisen as Israel's next consul general in São Paulo.

The latest setback comes after years of mounting tensions between Jerusalem and the administration of 80-year-old Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has repeatedly accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza and has emerged as one of the Jewish state's most vocal critics on the international stage.

Relations had already worsened significantly in 2025 after Brazil refused to accept the appointment of Gali Dagan as Israel's next ambassador, leaving Israel without a senior diplomat in Brazil and prompting a diplomatic downgrade between the two countries.

At the time, Israeli officials responded sharply to Lula's rhetoric and policy decisions.

“When the President of Brazil, Lula, disrespected the memory of the Holocaust during my tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, I declared him persona non grata in Israel until he apologized,” Defense Minister Israel Katz posted on 𝕏.

Katz then accused Lula of embracing antisemitic positions and siding with Israel's adversaries.

“Now he has revealed his true face as a declared antisemite and supporter of Hamas by withdrawing Brazil from the IHRA – the international body created to combat antisemitism and hatred against Israel – placing the country alongside regimes like Iran, which openly denies the Holocaust and threatens to destroy the State of Israel," he said.

“As Israel's Minister of Defense, I affirm: we will know how to defend ourselves against the axis of evil of radical Islamism, even without the help of Lula and his allies," he continued. “Shame on the wonderful Brazilian people and the many friends of Israel in Brazil that this is their president. Better days will still come for the relationship between our countries.”

Lula appeared largely unconcerned by the diplomatic fallout, and Brazil has now also rebuffed Israel’s attempt to appoint Eisen to the São Paulo post.

When the term of the current consul general, Rafi Erdrich, ends in the coming weeks, Israel's representation in Brazil will be reduced even further.

The Israeli embassy in Brasília is currently headed by counselor and chargé d'affaires, Rasha Athamni, the first Muslim citizen of Israel to enter the country's diplomatic corps after joining the cadet program in 2017.

Brazil is scheduled to hold presidential elections in October, around the same time Israelis are expected to head to the polls. For now, there appears to be a quiet consensus in Jerusalem to wait and see whether relations can be improved with whichever government emerges in Brasília after the elections.

However, Israeli officials and pro-Israel advocates argue that significant damage has already been done to Israeli interests, not only in Brazil but throughout Latin America, by policies pursued during Lula’s administration.

There is also reason to believe that Israel’s diplomatic challenges in Brazil may persist beyond Lula’s presidency.

A survey released in January found that fewer than half of Brazilians were aware of the Holocaust, while observers point to growing anti-Western and post-Christian trends among younger Brazilians despite strong support for Israel among the leadership of the nation's Evangelical Protestant churches.

Andre Lajst, CEO of StandWithUs Brasil, the local branch of the leading international pro-Israel education organization, lamented this week, "This is another low point in the relationship, and it is not good for Brazil, Israel, or the Jewish community. I hope that people in both countries are working to improve relations as soon as possible."