Lula dismisses Brazil’s ambassador to Zionist entity

WORLD, Jan. 13 (YPA) – Brazil’s new President Lula da Silva sacked his country’s ambassador to the Zionist entity, Gerson Ferenc, in a move described by the Hebrew media as a “surprise” for the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to Israeli Media, Brazil’s ambassador to Israel was removed from his post on Tuesday in one of the first moves by Brazilian President Lula da Silva since taking office.

Ferenc was appointed by Lula’s predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, as a political appointee in early 2018 but his dismissal may signal a shift in policy toward Israel.

Upon the formation of the new government, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said that under Lula’s government, which took power at the beginning of the month, Brazil “will cooperate with Arab countries, foremost of which is Palestine.”

E.M