No embassy move announced as Brazil’s Bolsonaro hosts Israel’s Netanyahu
- ‘Israel is the promised land, Brazil is the land of promise,’ said Israeli leader in pledge to help South American country
Brazil’s far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday and while both pledged to deepen ties, there was no announcement as some anticipated of Brazil moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Netanyahu, the first Israeli prime minister to visit Brazil, flew to Rio de Janeiro to meet Bolsonaro, an ideological ally who takes office on January 1 after his election victory in October. The two men had lunch in a fort on Copacabana beach before delivering statements.
“Israel is the promised land. Brazil is the land of promise,” said Netanyahu, adding that Israel could help in areas such as economics, security, agriculture and water resources.
Bolsonaro pledged he would visit Israel by March as a way to thank Netanyahu for the gesture.
“We will be starting a difficult government from January, but Brazil has potential,” Bolsonaro said. “So that we can overcome obstacles, we need good allies, good friends, good brothers, like Benjamin Netanyahu.”
