Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has paid an official visit to the western wall in the old city of Jerusalem on Monday, accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to ANI news reports, the western wall considered being a part of the retaining walls of the second Jewish temple and one of the holiest places to worship for Jews, however, the international community does not recognize the east of the Jerusalem including the old city as a part of Israel.
Both the leaders observed a few minutes of silence while doing the prayers and also placed notes in the cracks on the wall, the Times of Israel reported.
After his arrival in Israel on Sunday, Bolsonaro announced the opening of the “trade, technology and innovation office” in Israel that would be “an official office of the government of Brazil, in Jerusalem”, Netanyahu was quoted as saying.
He added, “I hope that this is a first step towards the opening in time of the Brazilian embassy in Jerusalem.”
In a tweet, Bolsonaro wrote: “Recognizing the historic ties of Jerusalem with the Jewish identity and that the city is the political heart of the State of Israel, I announced today that Brazil will open there a Brazilian office to promote trade, investment and exchange in innovation and technology.”
Bolsonari, who was on a four-day official visit, has arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday, days before Israeli general elections scheduled to take place on April 9.