Use of Israeli flag during Brazil riots sparks popular outrage
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Brazilians all over social media took to the platforms to condemn pro-Bolsonaro rioters' use of the Israeli and US flags during the storming of Congress.
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Brazilian rioters sporting the Israeli and US flags during the storming of the Brazilian congress
Brazilians took to social media in the aftermath of the Brasilia riots to condemn the use of Israeli flags by the supporters of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazilian social media users posted dozens of clips showing the violence that took place in the country's capital, which took place after supporters of Bolsonaro broke into the Planalto presidential palace and Congress building on Sunday, holding Brazilian, Israeli, and US flags, taking the roofs waving the flags despite attempts by security officers to contain the unrest.
The storming occurred in protest against leftist President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva who defeated far-right Bolsonaro in the presidential elections held on October 30.
A vast number of Brazilian Lula supporters underlined that the presence of Israeli flags at the riots was an indicator of how Bolsonaro's supporters had lost their sense of patriotism, especially in light of the presence of American flags en masse.
Patriota bolsonarista usa bandeira de Israel e dos EUA e depreda o patrimônio público, é isso? https://t.co/LYP80o1Y99
— Roberta Eloisa B.#ForaLIBERAIS 🇧🇷🚩🇷🇺🇨🇺 (@robertaebohn) January 9, 2023
Meanwhile, others denounced how Bolsonaro's supporters carried Israeli flags in their attack on the centers of Brazilian democracy, demanding in their comments that the government conduct background checks on the Bolsonaro supporters.
As "manifestações patrioticas" no Brasil tem sempre um fato curioso: bandeiras de Israel e EUA. Há impressão digital flagrante de Bannon. Bolsonaro e seus filhos precisam ser responsabilizados e presos pic.twitter.com/MrSYQIGCjO
— Carimbo Miguel Diniz (@ElCigarini) January 9, 2023
Con la bandera de Israel, seguidor de Jair Bolsonaro violenta y causa destrozos en el Supremo Tribunal Federal de Brasil hoy#Fantastico #semAnistiaPraGolpista #BrasilUrgente pic.twitter.com/E3XfRD4kP2
— Alejandra (@Alejandvz) January 9, 2023
"Every attempt at an occupation must include an Israeli flag; from the occupation of Palestine to the attempt to occupy the US Congress and the attempt to occupy the Brazilian government," one Brazilian netizen wrote.
Moreover, French National Assembly member Louis Boyard commented on the debacle, stressing that the actions of the Brazilian far-right were reminiscent of those of trump supporters in the United States. "Give power to the far right, they will never give it back to you," he stressed.
Actuellement, l’extrême-droite Brésilienne envahit les lieux de pouvoir au #Brésil.
— Louis Boyard (@LouisBoyard) January 8, 2023
Nous revoyons les mêmes méthodes qu’après la défaite de Trump.
C’est une leçon.
Donnez le pouvoir à l’extrême droite, elle ne vous le rendra jamais.
Soutien à @LulaOficial. pic.twitter.com/0xLCw32Bsx
"Carrying the Israeli flag is normal during any operation aimed at toppling democracy anywhere in the world," others have said.
Bolsonaro's close ties to Netanyahu
Bolsojnaro has maintained a close relationship with Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu throughout his former tenure. The two leaders' children also have a close relationship.
Netanyahu traveled to Brazil to attend the inauguration of the far-right leader.
A few years ago, Netanyahu appointed his assistant, Yossi Shelley, as the occupation's ambassador to Brazil, and Shelly established a very close relationship with Bolsonaro and visited his house constantly while defending his policies in public on various occasions.
During the latest Brazilian, despite being in the midst of his own elections in "Israel", Netanyahu recorded and published a video voicing his support for the Brazilian president. The former Brazilian President also published a video on his social media platforms in a bid to amass popular support.
It is noteworthy that Lula's government issued a memo condemning the Israeli occupation Police Minister's incursion into Al-Aqsa Mosque two weeks ago, defending the "international agreements discussing the administration of two Islamic holy sites in Al-Quds."
