On December 23, 2018 the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu made the following statement:
“This weekend I will make a historical visit to Brazil. Upon arrival, I will meet with President-elect Jair Bolsonaro and then with other leaders. There are two ways to generate growth in the Israeli economy: one is to create new products and the other is to open new markets. Brazil is a huge market, almost 250 million people; the opening of this gigantic market will create new jobs in Israel and help our economy. This visit will also bring important diplomatic news: a ‘twist’ in Israel’s relations with the largest country in Latin America. Step by step, methodically and persistently, we are transforming Israel into a growing global power. “