Brazil commits to embassy move to Jerusalem in 2020
Move comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended opening of new trade office in Jerusalem
Brazil has opened a new trade office in Jerusalem as a first step to moving its embassy to the Israeli capital next year.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, attended the opening ceremony on Sunday side by side with Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of right-wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who reiterated the relocation pledge from Latin America’s largest nation.
“You have political arguments, you have historical arguments. You have a bunch of arguments to recognize that Jerusalem is your capital. So we’re not going to do something extraordinary. We’re doing a normal thing — to recognise your capital,” said Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman who serves as chairman of the Brazilian International Affairs and National Defence Committee.
“We want to do a movement to Jerusalem, not only for Brazil, but to be an example to the rest of Latin America,” he added.
Netanyahu, who during the meeting spoke with President Bolsonaro via his son’s phone, thanked Brazil for supporting Israel in international forums.
“The office is part of something we have agreed upon in the tightening of relations between Israel and Brazil. And here it’s happening today as part of President Bolsonaro’s commitment to open an embassy in Jerusalem next year,” Netanyahu said.
In April, Bolsonaro became the first head of state to tour the Western Wall accompanied by an Israeli prime minister. On Jan. 1, Netanyahu attended Bolsonaro’s inauguration and became the first sitting Israeli prime minister to visit Brazil.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been heavily criticised for his right-wing views, including previous comments on gay people.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
