Flavio Bolsonaro embraces Israel ties, rejecting extremist rhetoric while Brazil’s left drifts toward hostile anti-Jewish postures.
Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, has indicated he may visit Israel next month as part of a broader international tour, according to an interview with Reuters. The itinerary could also include the United States, Argentina, Chile, Europe, and additional Middle Eastern destinations.
Elected to Brazil’s Senate in 2018 during the conservative surge that propelled his father to power, Flávio Bolsonaro is positioning himself for a presidential run next year. His platform centers on limited government, tax reductions, and privatization—policies aimed at economic revival rather than ideological confrontation. Describing himself as more restrained than his father, he said he represents a “more centered Bolsonaro,” emphasizing moderation without abandoning core conservative principles.
The potential Israel visit underscores continuity with Jair Bolsonaro’s unapologetically pro-Israel legacy. As president, Bolsonaro visited Israel in 2019, frequently displayed Israeli flags at rallies, and fostered close ties with Jerusalem. His family’s public affinity for Israel stood in stark contrast to the hostility often seen from Latin America’s left-wing governments.
That contrast has sharpened under Brazil’s current president, Lula da Silva, whose rhetoric toward Israel has drawn international condemnation. Lula compared Israel’s military actions in Gaza to Nazi crimes during World War II, recalled Brazil’s ambassador from Israel, and summoned Israel’s envoy for reprimand—then doubled down by accusing Israel of “genocide.”
Against this backdrop, Flávio Bolsonaro’s outreach to Israel signals a deliberate realignment: restoring Brazil’s standing among democratic allies and rejecting inflammatory narratives that demonize the Jewish state. For Israel, such voices represent potential partners pushing back against ideological hostility spreading across parts of the global left.
