Israeli FM : Brazil president unwelcome in Israel until he retracts Holocaust remarks

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared Brazilian President Lula da Silva persona non grata in Israel, after he compared the bombing of Gaza to the Holocaust.

The Israeli Foreign Minister declares the Brazilian President persona non grataThe Israeli Foreign Ministry took an unprecedented step towards the Brazilian ambassador in diplomatic custom

The Israeli minister rebuked the Brazilian ambassador in front of journalists after summoning him in protest against President da Silva’s statements, saying: “I brought you here (Yad Vashem Museum) to see with your own eyes what the Nazis did to us... They killed 6 million Jews, including members of my family... I came.” "I am here to tell you that what was issued by the Brazilian president is unacceptable."

He added: "What you said compared an honest war led by Israel against Hamas to what Hitler and the Nazis did is shameful and dangerous anti-Semitism," stressing that "we will only accept that (President da Silva) retract his word and apologize to the Israeli people."