Lula Secures 51.79% Victory, Keeping Brazilian Embassy in Tel Aviv

Luiz Inácio da Silva, known as Lula, won re-election as Brazil’s president with 51.79% of the valid votes. He defeated center-right senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who received 48.21% of the vote. The result stops a diplomatic shift that would have moved Brazil’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The path to this election began with Lula’s tenure, which included a sharp break in relations with Israel. In January 2024, the Brazilian government supported South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. In February 2024, Lula compared the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza to the Holocaust. Brazil’s Jewish umbrella organization, CONIB, called the comparison a distortion that offended Holocaust victims and their descendants. The Holocaust Museum of Buenos Aires also criticized the remarks.

Flavio Bolsonaro positioned himself as a strong ally of Israel during the campaign. On June 28, 2026, he met with Jewish leaders in Buenos Aires. He announced that Brazil would move its embassy to Jerusalem in 2027. He also praised the 120,000 Jews in Brazil, describing them as among the brightest in medicine, industry, science, culture, and business.

After the first round of voting on October 4, Flavio Bolsonaro finished ahead of Lula. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a congratulatory message the next day on X/Twitter. He expressed hope for restoring the friendship between the two nations. Flavio Bolsonaro has stated he does not accept the final results, although it is unclear how he would challenge them.

Lula’s victory interrupts a trend in Latin America. Since 2023, several regional leaders have strengthened ties with Israel. Argentine President Javier Milei makes support for Israel central to his foreign policy. Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira restored diplomatic relations in 2025. Honduran President Nasry Asfura formally recognized Israel’s new ambassador in 2025. Chilean President José Antonio Kast is rebuilding ties in 2025. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, elected in May, restored diplomatic ties, opened an embassy in Jerusalem, and withdrew from the ICJ genocide case.

Lula, a member of the Workers Party, remains a critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. His win keeps the Brazilian embassy in Tel Aviv for the next term. The next step in the diplomatic process will depend on Lula’s administration’s approach to bilateral relations.

The election outcome places Brazil back in the camp of nations that have been more critical of Israel’s actions. It contrasts with the recent moves by Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras, Chile, and Colombia to deepen their partnerships with the state.