Israel drops controversial Brazil ambassador pick

Israel had officially backed out of its intention to send a settler as its ambassador to Brazil, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said on Monday.

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Monday said that Danni Dayan, a former head of a settlers group and a settler himself, will be appointed instead as the Israeli consul general in New York.

Netanyahu appointed Dayan, his close associate, to replace the outgoing Israeli ambassador to Brazil, back in August, and the Israeli government approved the nomination in September.