Brazilian President Bolsonaro arrives in Israel for first visit

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday welcomed Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on his arrival in Israel for a four-day visit. “After only 3 months, on your first visit outside the American continent, you come to Israel to bring our relations to a new high,” said Netanyahu. He noted that Bolsonaro was accompanied by a “respectable delegation” of 100 business executives. He also commented that the visit had come at a “tense time, therefore I instructed the IDF to spread out fully around the Gaza Strip. We are ready for every scenario and, if needed, for a broader campaign. We will do what is needed for Israel’s security.”

Replying in Portuguese, the Brazilian president declared; “I love Israel and am excited to be here. We want to be like you, as is written in the Bible. The friendship between our two countries is historic. We must take advantage of the potential of our relations,” he added. The Brazilian president will visit to the Western Wall while members of his party tour Israeli enterprises and negotiate contracts. Brazil is to move its economic mission to Jerusalem while its embassy stays in Tel Aviv for now.