Dani Dayan
Dani DayanFlash 90

A group of Israeli leftists recently approached the government of Brazil, through the Brazilian ambassadors in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, demanding that Brazil reject the appointment of Dani Dayan, former chairman of the Yesha Council, as Israel's ambassador to Brazil, Haaretz reports Sunday.

The request is a very unusual one, especially given the fact that among the group of leftists who made the demand are three former Israeli ambassadors.

According to the members of the group, Brazil allowing Dayan to serve as Israeli ambassador in its territory would give international legitimacy to the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria.

Among the ambassadors who made the demand are the former Director General of the Foreign Ministry Alon Liel, who also served as Israel's ambassador in South Africa and as head of the Israeli embassy in Turkey, former Israeli ambassador to South Africa Ilan Baruch and former Israeli ambassador to Paris Élie Barnavi.

It should be noted that according to diplomatic protocol, a country may refuse a certain ambassador from another country but it is a highly unusual move that occurs only rarely.

Meanwhile, as the Israeli group works against Dayan’s appointment, a host of organizations in Brazil are also working against the appointment. Brazil's Foreign Ministry has not yet officially responded to the Israeli request to appoint Dayan, but it is believed that the chances that the appointment will be rejected are miniscule.

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) responded to the uproar over Dayan’s appointment on Sunday night and said, "Dani Dayan is the right man at this time to represent Israel in Brazil.”

"His impressive public record of ideological work stands to his credit when he comes to represent the position of the current government that supports our right to settle in Judea and Samaria," she continued, adding that certain political elements find Dayan's position uncomfortable, and for this reason are working against the appointment.

"I stand alongside the Prime Minister in this important appointment, and am happy that Dayan represents the government's position and the positions of most of the Israeli public."