This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/29/world/middleeast/israel-brazil-ambassador.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Israel Changes Tack Over Ambassador After Standoff With Brazil Israel Changes Tack Over Ambassador After Standoff With Brazil
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM — Israel pulled back on Monday after a monthslong diplomatic standoff with Brazil over plans to install a former settler leader as its ambassador there, reassigning him to a post in the United States after the government in Brasília refused to approve his appointment.JERUSALEM — Israel pulled back on Monday after a monthslong diplomatic standoff with Brazil over plans to install a former settler leader as its ambassador there, reassigning him to a post in the United States after the government in Brasília refused to approve his appointment.
The office of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, issued a brief statement saying that Mr. Netanyahu had decided to appoint the former settler leader, Dani Dayan, as consul general in New York.The office of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, issued a brief statement saying that Mr. Netanyahu had decided to appoint the former settler leader, Dani Dayan, as consul general in New York.
“He will replace Foreign Ministry career official Ido Aharoni, who is completing his term,” the statement said. Officials in the prime minister’s office and in the Foreign Ministry declined to make any additional public comment.“He will replace Foreign Ministry career official Ido Aharoni, who is completing his term,” the statement said. Officials in the prime minister’s office and in the Foreign Ministry declined to make any additional public comment.
Mr. Dayan did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but he told Army Radio in Israel on Monday that he had told Mr. Netanyahu that he preferred the position in New York when the Brasília job was first discussed. Mr. Dayan said that he had told Mr. Netanyahu, who also serves as foreign minister, that he preferred the position in New York when the Brasília job was first discussed. “I believe in my ability to bring about a revolution in Israeli public relations in North America,” he wrote in a text message, “and New York is its beating heart.”
Mr. Dayan, an immigrant from Argentina who made a fortune running an information technology company, said that his reassignment should not be seen as giving in to Brazil. Speaking earlier on Army Radio in Israel, Mr. Dayan, an immigrant from Argentina who made a fortune running an information technology company, said that his reassignment should not be seen as giving in to Brazil.
“I think we did not have a choice,” he said. “Those that did not want us in Brasília got us in New York, the capital of the world.”“I think we did not have a choice,” he said. “Those that did not want us in Brasília got us in New York, the capital of the world.”
The dispute began in August, when Mr. Netanyahu, who also serves as foreign minister, announced the appointment to Brazil of Mr. Dayan, the former chairman of an umbrella organization representing Jewish settlers in the West Bank. The dispute began in August, when Mr. Netanyahu announced the appointment to Brazil of Mr. Dayan, the former chairman of an umbrella organization representing Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
The left-leaning government in Brazil declined to grant its approval, which is diplomatic code for indicating displeasure. Brazilian officials said that the government’s silence reflected its objection to the way that Israel had handled the matter by publicly announcing Mr. Dayan’s appointment before quietly checking whether he would be accepted.The left-leaning government in Brazil declined to grant its approval, which is diplomatic code for indicating displeasure. Brazilian officials said that the government’s silence reflected its objection to the way that Israel had handled the matter by publicly announcing Mr. Dayan’s appointment before quietly checking whether he would be accepted.
Brazil formally recognized Palestinian statehood within the 1967 boundaries of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem five years ago, and the settlements are considered a violation of international law by most of the world.Brazil formally recognized Palestinian statehood within the 1967 boundaries of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem five years ago, and the settlements are considered a violation of international law by most of the world.
As the impasse dragged on, Israel dug in. The deputy foreign minister, Tzipi Hotovely, said in December, soon after the previous ambassador to Brazil, Reda Mansour, returned to Israel, that Israel would downgrade its relations and appoint a second-tier diplomat in Brasília if Mr. Dayan was not accepted. As the impasse dragged on, Israel dug in. The deputy foreign minister, Tzipi Hotovely, said in December, soon after the previous ambassador to Brazil, Reda Mansour, returned to Israel, that Israel would downgrade its relations and be represented by a second-tier diplomat if Mr. Dayan was not accepted.
But the standoff became increasingly embarrassing for Israel, and the reassignment of Mr. Dayan to New York provided a respectable way out.But the standoff became increasingly embarrassing for Israel, and the reassignment of Mr. Dayan to New York provided a respectable way out.
In an interview published on Friday in the weekend edition of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Mr. Dayan gave no inkling that he knew the about-face was imminent. “The position in principle is that there will not be another ambassador,” he said.In an interview published on Friday in the weekend edition of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Mr. Dayan gave no inkling that he knew the about-face was imminent. “The position in principle is that there will not be another ambassador,” he said.
Mr. Dayan added that he would remove his candidacy immediately if asked to do so officially, but that “surrendering” to a Brazilian boycott because of his settler connections was worse than not having an Israeli ambassador in Brazil.Mr. Dayan added that he would remove his candidacy immediately if asked to do so officially, but that “surrendering” to a Brazilian boycott because of his settler connections was worse than not having an Israeli ambassador in Brazil.
In what may have been a premature indication that Israel was about to step back from the dispute with Brazil, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a new tender for the position of Israel’s ambassador to Brasília on March 17.In what may have been a premature indication that Israel was about to step back from the dispute with Brazil, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a new tender for the position of Israel’s ambassador to Brasília on March 17.
The ministry quickly issued a statement saying the announcement was “an unfortunate bureaucratic mistake” and that Mr. Dayan was still Israel’s choice.The ministry quickly issued a statement saying the announcement was “an unfortunate bureaucratic mistake” and that Mr. Dayan was still Israel’s choice.