Dilma says the situation in Gaza is a massacre.
The president described Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip as disproportionate during a question-and-answer session hosted by Folha, Uol, SBT, and Jovem Pan on Monday; "I don't think it's genocide, but I think it's a massacre. It's a disproportionate action," she said; Dilma Rousseff also lamented the words of the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, who called Brazil a "diplomatic dwarf."
Luciano Nascimento - Reporter for Agência Brasil
President Dilma Rousseff, running for re-election, today (28) described Israel's action in the Gaza Strip as disproportionate. Since the start of Israel's bombings in Gaza three weeks ago, 1.030 Palestinians, including women and children, have died. On the Israeli side, there were 43 deaths, all of them soldiers. For Dilma, Israel is promoting a "massacre by targeting the civilian population, especially women and children".
"I don't think it's genocide, but I think it's a massacre. It's a disproportionate action," said the president, who considered regrettable the position of the spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yigal Palmo, who, according to a local newspaper, called Brazil a "diplomatic dwarf." "I regret the spokesperson's words, because words create a very bad atmosphere; we should be careful with our words," she added.
Dilma made the statements in response to a question during a debate organized by the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, the portal UOL, SBT, and Rádio Jovem Pan, held this Monday at the Palácio da Alvorada. The four media outlets have already interviewed candidates Eduardo Campos (PSB) and Aécio Neves (PSDB) this month.
The president, however, denied that there is a diplomatic crisis with Israel and recalled that Brazil was the first country to recognize the Jewish state. According to Dilma, Brazil defends the existence of both the State of Israel and a Palestinian state.
Dilma praised the position of the United Nations Security Council, which today (28) approved a request for a humanitarian ceasefire in the region. "The UN's decision to demand an immediate ceasefire is very welcome, as this is a situation that cannot continue," she said.