With his trip to Israel shortly before the Knesset election in Brazil is the right President from the traditional principle of non-interference. Not everyone can taste. Also, allies in Brasilia to be nervous.
In the year 2016 Jair Bolsonaro put on a white Robe, and in the Jordan by a prominent Evangelical priest for baptism. At the time, he was still a Deputy in the Brazilian Parliament. Now he is back in Israel – as President of the largest country in Latin America. Many of the 40 million Evangelical Brazilians had supported him.
Four days – from Sunday to Wednesday to spend Bolsonaro in Israel. It’s not just him and policy. Both sides want agreements in areas such as science and technology, trade, defense, and agriculture. In addition, Bolsonaro, who is married with an Evangelical wants to visit religious sites in the Holy Land.
Pretty good friends: Benjamin Netanyahu visited Jair Bolsonaro to the office
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the few Western heads of state, at the Celebration to Bolsonaros took office on 1. January took part, after this was announced, Brazil will follow the example of the United States to move its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Just as Netanyahu, in the courts for more than a decade of American evangelicals, is Bolsonaro, an open supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump and his policy. And also Trump had won in the election campaign, many evangelicals.
“The main reason for Bolsonaros visit is on the line, Trumps, and his Evangelical base to swing,” says Arie Kacowicz, a Professor of international relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Trade representation instead of message
Bolsonaro, called the “Trump of the tropics”, is now in terms of message routing, after his economic adviser, the military and the powerful farm lobby had opposed it.
Bolsonaro would move the Embassy to Jerusalem, would he the resentment of Muslim, particularly Arab States. The various governments. Such a step would not only in contrast to the Brazilian Tradition of multilateralism and neutrality. It could also mean economic losses for Brazil. The country is the world’s largest exporter of Halal-beef, and the recipient countries, not least the one that had threatened. Instead, Brazil wants to open a trade office in Jerusalem.
Together at the wailing wall: Jair Bolsonaro (left) and Benjamin Netanyahu
But, a visit to Bolsonaros is seen as a success for Netanyahu, however, claim to have helped Israel in terms of foreign policy a new size. Under his leadership, Israel has forged close ties with various right-wing governments in India, Europe and across the Atlantic. The latest friend of Israel, he has now found in Bolsonaro.
“Brazil is the largest regional power in Latin America, therefore, this visit can be seen as a diplomatic Triumph for Netanyahu,” says Kacowicz. “At the same time, it confirms that this government is allied rather with illiberal or populist democracies, and the US-Democrats and traditionally liberal countries in Europe, distant.”
Netanyahu in the election campaign under pressure
Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party can currently do with any kind of success message. On 9. April chooses Israel a new Parliament, and the head of government wants to be re-elected amid allegations of corruption against him. The recognition of the Golan heights as Israeli territory by the US President, Trump pointed to an observer as a campaign of support for the Prime Minister.
For Brazil’s Ex-foreign Minister Marcos Azambuja, the Timing of Bolsonaros trip to Israel is problematic: “He should not have to travel a few days before a crucial election in Israel. We should not interfere in Israeli domestic policy – neither in the one nor in the other direction.” No doubt the government is going to decorate with Bolsonaros visit; finally, tilt Netanyahu anyway to pick up for his domestic policy support from the outside.
Ex-Diplomat Azambuja, now an adviser to the Brazilian center for International relations, is also concerned about the ideological pivot in the Brazilian foreign policy, the don’t fit to the multi-ethnic and multi-religious of Brazil: “This tendency to an Evangelical Vision is the farewell to the idea of a secular state, a country tolerant of all religions and sects.”