Palestinian says Bolsonaro needs to study after threat to withdraw embassy from Brasilia.

From the Sputnik Agency – Brazilian congressman and presidential pre-candidate Jair Bolsonaro, from the Social Liberal Party (PSL), generated controversy this week by stating that, if elected, he intends to remove the Palestinian Embassy from Brazil, since he does not consider Palestine a country, even though Brasília recognized it as an independent state in 2010.

According to the politician, who has repeatedly advocated for closer ties between Brazil and Israel, the construction of the building in the federal capital in 2016 was the result of a negotiation between former President Dilma Rousseff and terrorists, in a kind of "makeshift" arrangement.

"Dilma negotiated with Palestine, not with the people there. You don't negotiate with terrorists, so that embassy next to the Planalto Palace, that's not the place for that," the congressman stated, as quoted by Estadão.

Outraged by the congressman's statements regarding his country of origin, the president of the Arab-Brazilian Cultural Center, businessman Ahmed Ramadan, said in an interview with Sputnik Brazil that the PSL candidate's stance on Palestine clearly reflects Israeli influence on his candidacy, an evident exchange of interests. According to him, Bolsonaro, by engaging in controversies like this, demonstrates a lack of understanding of the depth of Brazilian ties not only with the Palestinians, but also with the entire Arab and Muslim community in general.

"Brazil is much loved by the Arab people. It has commercial, sporting, and cultural relations with Brazil. In fact, the Arab community here in Brazil is very strong. Roughly 20% to 30% of Brazilians are of Arab descent. There isn't a single Brazilian who doesn't have good relations with Arabs, whether through friendship or ancestry," stated Ahmed, accusing the parliamentarian of wanting to close Brazil's doors to Arab countries in exchange for Israel's support, which, according to him, would even harm the Brazilian economy.

Also according to the businessman, Bolsonaro has been showing through his actions that he is not prepared to become president of the Republic.

"He, really, this candidate, he lacks culture; he needs to study. He needs some well-informed advisors who understand the issues and relationships. He's very weak as president in that respect."

Regarding the decision by the US head of state to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, provoking outrage among the Arab and Muslim population worldwide, Ahmed Ramadan believes that Donald Trump has greatly hampered US relations with other countries after this maneuver. He thinks Jair Bolsonaro could follow the same path, especially if he adopts a similar measure.

"Same thing. He wants to destroy all of Brazil's relations with the Arab world and Muslim countries. If he moves the Brazilian Embassy to Jerusalem, it won't just be a problem for the Palestinians or the Arab world, but for all Muslims. He will create many problems for Brazil."

According to political scientist Samuel Feldberg, professor of International Relations at the University of São Paulo (USP) and a prominent figure in the São Paulo Jewish community, from a legal standpoint, Bolsonaro's position on Palestine has a certain logical basis, and, as president, he could probably make this decision regarding the embassy without "breaking diplomatic relations with a state that does not yet exist."

"In 2011, Palestine was requested to be included as a member state of the United Nations. Since this request had to be approved by both the Security Council and the General Assembly—and there was a strong likelihood that the United States would veto this request in the Security Council—then, in 2012, not coincidentally, on November 29th, the anniversary of the 1947 partition, the General Assembly accepted Palestine as a non-member observer state. Therefore, the Palestinian representation participates in the assemblies of the United Nations, but they do not have the status of a state like the other members of the United Nations," stated the expert.

According to Feldberg, the transfer of the Brazilian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a city sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims and disputed by Israelis and Palestinians, under a potential Jair Bolsonaro government, should not be considered improbable. However, he argues that today, Brazil's relations with Israel are already much better than they used to be, and if elected, Bolsonaro may have "little to contribute" in that regard.

"Relations between Brazil and Israel are at their best levels since the Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration. They are fluid, there are a number of common interests in expanding economic and cultural ties, and therefore, candidate Bolsonaro would perhaps have little to contribute to improving these relations at this time."