Brazil's Bolsonaro: Looking forward to Netanyahu's visit

"Israel is a global technological reference in several areas and this is of interest to us," Bolsonaro said on Twitter.

DECEMBER 28, 2018 02:46

Updated: DECEMBER 28, 2018 04:25

Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro salutes before receiving a confirmation of his victory in the recent presidential election in Brasilia, Brazil December 10, 2018 (photo credit: ADRIANO MACHADO/ REUTERS) — Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro salutes before receiving a confirmation of his victory in the recent presidential election in Brasilia, Brazil December 10, 2018

(photo credit: ADRIANO MACHADO/ REUTERS)

Brazil's president-elect Jair Bolsonaro commented on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's expected visit to Brazil ahead of his inauguration on Friday.

"I look forward to the arrival and visit of Prime Minister Netanyahu," said Bolsonaro on Twitter. "We will meet to discuss a new course for our nations' [relations]. Expectations are high at this unprecedented moment in our history."

Espero a chegada e visita do Primeiro-Ministro @netanyahu . Nos reuniremos e discutiremos novos rumos para nossas nações. As expectativas são as melhores para este momento inédito de nossa história.
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) December 27, 2018

A steadfast supporter of Israel, Bolsonaro has repeated on a number of different occasions that he intends not only to strengthen Brazil-Israel ties but also to relocate Brazil’s embassy to Jerusalem.

"Israel is a global technological reference in several areas and this is of interest to us," Bolsonaro added on Twitter. "We want the best for Brazil and Brazilians."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to fly to Brazil on Thursday evening. The focus of Netanyahu’s trip is the meeting with the president-elect, expected to take place Friday in Rio de Janeiro.

The prime minister is expected to attend Shabbat services at a synagogue in Copacabana, and meet evangelical Christian leaders on Sunday.

This will be the first-ever visit by a sitting Israeli prime minister to Brazil, the fifth most populous country in the world, and the country with the world’s eighth largest economy.

Herb Keinon contributed to this report.