Bolsonaro backtracks and says embassy move to Jerusalem may not happen.

Sputnik Brazil - President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday that he may open a business office in Jerusalem.

The Brazilian Embassy in Israel is located in Tel Aviv, but there are plans to transfer the representation to Jerusalem. Next Sunday, Bolsonaro will arrive in Israel as part of an official visit.

During his election campaign, Bolsonaro advocated for changing the location of Brazilian diplomatic representation in Israel. The United States and Guatemala had already proposed similar changes, and many interpreted the Brazilian president's statements as a gesture of deference and alignment with US policy. However, the matter is still under review, as the president-elect himself, after protests from several Arab countries, denied his intentions.

"Maybe we'll open a business office," Bolsonaro said on Wednesday.

"[Donald] Trump took nine months to decide on the embassy move. We might open a business office in Jerusalem," the head of state told reporters on Thursday, after a ceremony at the Army Club in Brasília.

He also advocated for closer ties with Israel. "Israel, the United States, Brazil, and other countries have already begun to vote differently from the traditional way, which is by siding with Palestine. We want real human rights. It is the State of Israel that defines matters of state," he concluded.

Jerusalem is the subject of clashes and disputes between Palestinians and Israelis. Both claim the site as sacred. To avoid escalating the situation, the countries consider Tel Aviv as the administrative capital of Israel, where international diplomatic missions are located, reported Agência Brasil.