Israel’s foreign minister stated that Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva would not be welcome in Israel until he apologized for likening Israel’s actions in Gaza to the Holocaust, Associated Press reports.
Silva’s comments were made at the African Union summit in Ethiopia, comparing Israel’s Gaza offensive to Hitler’s actions against Jews. The comments followed condemnation of Israel’s Gaza offensive by leaders at the African Union summit.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Lula’s remarks, stating they trivialized the Holocaust. Israel summoned Brazil’s ambassador for reprimand, leading Brazil to recall its ambassador to Israel.
