Israeli Ambassador in Brazil Leaves Office Without Receiving Order of Distinction

07/31/2014 - 09h04

Rafael Eldad, the Israeli Ambassador in Brazil, was not awarded an order of distinction by the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations at his farewell lunch on Wednesday, July 30th.

This honor is usually a formality at such events.

The luncheon was hosted by Brazilian Ambassador Paulo Cordeiro, sub secretary for Africa and the Middle East at the Ministry of External Relations.

According to the Ministry's press office "the award of order of distinctions to foreign ambassadors who leave Brazil are assessed on an individual basis".

In the assessment, criteria like "reciprocity, contribution to a bilateral relationship, a state visit by the Head of State during that Ambassador's office, amongst other things" are considered, the text outlines.

One such distinction was recently awarded to the Ambassador for Timor East, last May.

In his farewell speech, the Ministry's secretary-general, Eduardo dos Santos, awarded the Timorese Ambassador the Grand Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross in "recognition of his distinguished work".

The Israeli and Brazilian Foreign Offices had a diplomatic spat on the current military action against Gaza.

The Brazilian diplomacy criticized Israel's "disproportionate" action and Brazil was in turn labeled a "diplomatic dwarf" by the Israeli diplomacy.

Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA

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