Politics
10:38, 29-Dec-2018
Israeli PM, Brazil's president-elect hail budding 'brotherhood'
Updated
10:39, 01-Jan-2019
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Brazil's president-elect Jair Bolsonaro on Friday announced a nascent "brotherhood" between their countries that will boost economic, military and technological cooperation.
The two issued the warm words to the media after a meeting in a century-old military fort on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach, at the beginning of the first-ever visit by an Israeli prime minister to Brazil.
"More than partners, we will be brothers in the future, in the economy, technology, all that can bring benefit to our two countries," Bolsonaro said. He also spoke of cooperation in military and agriculture matters.
Netanyahu, calling his visit "historic," also spoke of "the brotherhood, the alliance" the two planned as something that "can carry us to great heights."
Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a meeting at the Copacabana Fort, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on December 28, 2018./VCG Photo
Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a meeting at the Copacabana Fort, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on December 28, 2018./VCG Photo
The Israeli leader is to stay on through Tuesday to join other foreign dignitaries at the inauguration in Brasilia of Bolsonaro, a far-right, security-conscious politician and former army officer elected in October on pledges to crack down on endemic crime and corruption.
Netanyahu said Bolsonaro had accepted an invitation to make his own visit to Israel, without giving a date.
While both pledged to deepen ties, there was no announcement as some anticipated of Brazil moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Source(s): AFP