By Dorah Feliciano, Contributing Reporter
BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro tried to ease tensions between the country and Arab nations on last night by attending a dinner with 37 ambassadors from Arab countries in Brasilia. According to Bolsonaro, the federal government welcomes trade relations with all countries “with open arms.”
“May these commercial ties grow into bonds of friendship, respect, and fraternity,” said the Brazilian president in a video released to the press.
The event had been organized by the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CAN) and Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Corrêa da Costa Dias prior to the President’s visit to Israel.
Tensions between Brazil and Arab countries grew high during the visit as Bolsonaro praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announced the opening of a commercial office in Jerusalem. During the 2018 presidential campaign, Bolsonaro had promised to move the Brazilian embassy to Jerusalem, a pledge that has since been put on hold.
During the dinner, Agriculture Minister Costa Dias highlighted the peaceful coexistence between Brazilians of Muslim faith and those of other origins and religions and praised the contribution made by Arabs towards making Brazilian society more diverse.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, trade with the Arab countries represented US$16 billion in export revenues for Brazil in 2018. Approximately 58 percent of all of the sugarcane, 37 percent of all chicken meat, and 23 percent of all beef exports from Brazil are directed toward these countries.
“Brazil and the Islamic world are united by solid and long-lasting bonds of friendship,” said the Agriculture Minister.
According to officials present at the dinner, President Bolsonaro was able to ease concerns that Brazil might be gradually distancing itself from Arab nations.
“The dinner was very important (for us) to maintain friendly relations with Brazil. We believe in Brazil,” Palestine ambassador Ibrahim Mohamed Khalil Alzeben told a reporter after the event.
“This was a unique opportunity to break the ice after a series of news that did not help our bilateral relations,” he added.
To him, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a domestic policy issue.
“Brazil should not get involved in this conflict. We are going to maintain good relations with Brazil and we wish Brazil the best,” he said, after describing the meeting as “pleasant.”
The city of Jerusalem is claimed by both Palestinians and Israelis as a sacred place. East Jerusalem is considered the capital of a future Palestinian state, and moving the Brazilian embassy to that city would imply that Brazil supports Israel.
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