Israeli FM says he boycotted visiting Brazilian president over protocol breach

Occupied Jerusalem: Israel's foreign minister has confirmed he boycotted meetings with the visiting Brazilian president, claiming he refused to visit the grave of the founder of modern Zionism.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman says he did not attend President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's speech at the Israeli parliament on Monday or two other meetings.

Lieberman told Israeli media on Tuesday he "does not accept" Silva's decision not to visit late Zionist leader Theodor Herzl's grave, while agreeing to lay a wreath at the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

He says Silva breached protocol by not visiting the grave.

Silva's visit is the first for a sitting president of Brazil. He will also visit the West Bank and Jordan.