JERUSALEM (JTA) — The former leader of a settlers’ council was appointed Israel’s ambassador to Brazil.

Dani Dayan, 59, was tapped for the post by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also the acting foreign minister. Netanyahu made the announcement of the appointment on Wednesday in a statement issued from his office and also on his Twitter account.

Dayan served as chairman of the Yesha Council for six years, until 2013.

Dayan, an Argentina native, is “engaged in public diplomacy in Israel and abroad on a daily basis,” the statement said.

Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, is the seventh largest economy in the world. Israel is working to develop commercial links with international markets in South America, especially Brazil.

“Latin America is one of the main objectives of the State of Israel in the context of its efforts to develop markets that will contribute to increasing economic growth,” Netanyahu said in his statement. “I am confident that Dani Dayan will bring to the post his considerable experience and will deepen relations between Israel and Brazil.”

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