Dani Dayan

Dayan: “I am a person who, if I may for a second take the diplomatic hat off, fully identifies with the current government. I don’t have to act as if I do, I really do.”

Brasil came under heavy pressure from Palestinians, left-wing NGOs, and left wing Israelis to reject Dayan on grounds that to accept him as envoy would be seen as legitimizing the settlements.

“This is an unprecedented decision,” Hanegbi said of Brazil’s behavior. “This isn’t a personal insult towards Dayan or the Israeli government, it’s about the interests of the State of Israel.”

Earlier this week, a group of 40 retired Brazilian diplomats signed a statement against the appointment of Dayan, complaining that Israel had bypassed protocol.

Brazilian senator and prominent Evangelical leader Marcelo Crivella adds that "Dani Dayan is a prepared diplomat selected legitimately by a friendly country."

The meeting came five days after Dayan said in an interview that after three months waiting for the Brazilians to agree to the appointment , it was time to take a more aggressive stance.

Brazilian officials are known to be uncomfortable with Dayan due to his rightist political views, namely his stated opposition to Palestinian statehood.

The power to appoint is the power to govern. Without the power to appoint public servants, governments cannot develop patronage networks.

Dayan, who lives in Samaria, is a former head of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip.

Three former ambassadors actively lobby in Brazil to scuttle appointment of Dani Dayan as Israel's next ambassador; group of ex-ambassadors meet with Abbas in Paris.