Israel warns Brazil to accept its settler ambassador

Israel has threatened to downgrade its relations with Brazil if it does not accept its choice for ambassador to the country.

Tzipi Hotovely, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, told Israeli television that the Brazilian government’s reluctance to approve Dani Dayan’s deployment would leave ties between the states at a “secondary” level.

Brazil objected to Dayan’s appointment four months ago because of his former role as the head of a Jewish settler movement in the occupied West Bank and his continued residence in Palestinian territory.