Bolsonaro unveils new business office in Jerusalem
In a trip to Israel, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced Sunday (Mar. 31) the creation of a Brazilian commercial representation office in Jerusalem. Alongside Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bolsonaro said the office will be responsible for science, technology and innovation, and business.
Bolsonaro said the partnership between the two nations was like a “marriage.” “Before I was a candidate, I said: Look what Israel doesn’t have, and what Israel is; and look what Brazil has and is not. This marriage today will bring benefits to the people of both nations,” he argued.
Netanyahu also underscored the role of the initiative. In his view, this may be the first step to the relocation of Brazil’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. “I hope Brazil’s embassy moves to Jerusalem one day.”
Also on Sunday, the two governments signed cooperation deals in such fields as defense, air services, crime prevention and measures against organized crime, science and technology, and a memorandum of understanding on cyber security.
Brazil’s Foreign Minister reported that, as two major natural gas producers, both countries “will exchange better practices on the conception of the domestic markets for natural gas.”
The two leaders highlighted the deal on air services, which aim to promote connectivity between the two countries, guaranteeing operational freedom for air carriers. Also emphasized was the determination in adopting joint military initiatives for forging closer ties in this field.
Declaration
In a joint declaration, Bolsonaro and Netanyahu reiterated Brazil and Israel’s acknowledgment of Juan Guaidó, Venezuela’s self-proclaimed acting president, as “legitimate leader.” They stressed the two countries’ commitment to the Venezuelan people in their fight against the regime of Nicolás Maduro.
They said that the partnership between Brazil and Israel is based on common values of liberty, democracy, market economy, justice, and peace, and the common determination to seek prosperity for both nations.
Netanyahu restated his support for Brazil’s effort to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Israel’s leader fondly recalled the key role played by Brazil during the United Nations General Assembly in which it approved Resolution 181, in 1947, chaired by Chancellor Oswaldo Aranha, which paved the way for the recreation of the Israeli state in the ancestral land of the Jewish people, on May 14, 1948.
On Tuesday (2), President Bolsonaro welcomes CEOs from Israeli and Israeli-Brazilian companies. He is also expected to attend a Brazil–Israel business meeting and to have lunch with executives. The president should return to Brazil on Wednesday (3).
