The leader of Brazil’s Jewish community on Thursday accused Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of “flirting with antisemitism” after he urged them to lobby Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against the war in Gaza.
In an interview with the SBT television station on Sept. 5, Lula called Netanyahu “a genocidal criminal” and said Brazilian Jews should “write him a letter” to protest civilian deaths in Gaza.
“I think the Brazilian Jewish community should send a letter to Netanyahu and say that he is not waging war against Hamas, he is killing women and children. He is committing genocide to stay in power,” said Lula. “That is what the Jewish community here in Brazil should do. Not defend the criminal, not defend the genocidal man, but defend the right to life.”
CONIB, the umbrella group representing Brazilian-Jewish communities and organizations, published a harsh-worded statement condemning Lula of “flirting with antisemitism” and promoting antisemitic narratives.
“Not content with stirring up anti-Jewish sentiment in Brazil with his false and extremist attacks on Israel, President Lula is now directly attacking the Brazilian Jewish community, a pluralistic and politically diverse community,” the statement read. “Accusing Jews of killing women and children is one of the oldest antisemitic accusations in history, and it is regrettable that the President of the Republic promotes this in our country,” CONIB stated.
Under Lula, a Socialist, Brazil has led a move widely seen as an unofficial rupture in diplomatic relations, recalling his country’s ambassador to Israel in May. Brasilia has not approved the appointment of a new Israeli ambassador to Brazil.
However, Lula’s hostility toward Israel is controversial in a country where opposition leader and former president Jair Bolsonaro has lionized Israel with widespread approval from his heavily evangelical Christian base.
In May, Brazil’s Senate passed legislation declaring April 12 “Brazil–Israel Friendship Day.” Lula, who had the power to veto the legislation, allowed it to pass, avoiding unilateral action on this issue against a conservative-dominated legislature the cooperation of which the president needs to pass laws more central to domestic policy.
Brazil’s government last month took the country out of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance( IHRA), citing the legal obligations that come with membership.
The coalition’s working definition of antisemitism includes the demonization of Israel in the examples section. The IHRA adopted that definition after the European Union took it off of its website following protests by anti-Israel activists. It also includes as an example of antisemitism “Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the State of Israel.”