From the Liveblog of
Friday, October 9, 2026
Netanyahu speaks with Brazilian front-runner Bolsonaro
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone last night with Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, says the Prime Minister’s Office.
Netanyahu congratulated him on coming in first in the first round of presidential elections this week, says the PMO.
Bolsonaro, son of pro-Israel former president Jair Bolsonaro, will face incumbent Lula da Silva in a run-off vote on October 25. A Bolsonaro victory would return Brazil to being one of Israel’s closest allies, amid a pro-Israel, conservative turn across Latin America.
Netanyahu invites Bolsonaro to visit Israel, and the Brazilian returns the invitation.
“The two intend to renew the deep friendship between the two countries,” says the Israeli readout, “as part of the transformation taking place in Israel’s relations with South American countries.”
More from today’s Liveblog:
- ‘Jews have a prior right over Arabs to everything in this country’: Soldier filmed blocking Palestinians from olive harvest
- Nobel peace committee says not up to it to decide if Gaza war constitutes genocide, after awarding prize to head of UN panel which said it was
- Palestinian Authority confirms it is postponing first legislative elections in 20 years
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