Brazilian Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning Iran’s recent attacks against Israel, but Israeli government expressed dissatisfaction with the statement. According to Israel, the ministry did not adequately address the severity of the attacks. This has caused further diplomatic tension between Brazil and Israel, as experts believe it demonstrates Brazil’s increasing distance from Western countries.
In a statement released by Itamaraty, Brazil mentioned that they were following Iran’s attacks against Israel with grave concern. Last Saturday, Iran launched an attack using drones and missiles against Israel, with most of the projectiles intercepted by Israel’s air defense system. This was the first attack of its kind by Iran against Israel, further complicating diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Israeli Ambassador Daniel Zonshine expressed disappointment in Brazil’s failure to condemn the attacks, stating that condemnation was expected from the beginning. Brazilian Chancellor Mauro Vieira clarified that the initial note was issued early in the attacks, before the full extent of the situation was known. However, despite criticism, Brazil maintains that it condemns all acts of violence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been criticized for its stance on this issue as another example of Brazil’s departure from Western countries. While Western countries and European Union unequivocally condemned Iran’s attacks, Brazil’s response has drawn criticism for not aligning with established norms of denouncing terrorism. This deviation is seen as part of President Lula’s broader approach to global politics, which some view as aligning more closely with autocratic regimes rather than Western democracies.
Brazilian President Lula has previously made controversial comments against Israel and Iran causing backlash from Israeli leaders and Lula’s past statements comparing Israel’s actions to Holocaust and supporting accusations of genocide against Israel have strained diplomatic relations between these two nations.
Furthermore, Lula’s approach to Iran has also been a defining factor in Brazil’s foreign policy during his presidency he sought to mediate conflicts between Western countries and Iran over nuclear proliferation issues.
Despite recent criticisms and tensions