Yossi Dagan Campaigns for Brazil's Bolsonaro in Zoom Blitz

Two days before polling stations open in Israel, elections are taking place overseas today that could prove critical for Israel in general and Judea and Samaria in particular. Polls open today in Brazil, where incumbent president Lula da Silva, identified with a pro-Palestinian line, faces challenger Flavio Bolsonaro, who has expressed clear support for Israel and is considered the leading candidate.

Working behind the scenes to help Flavio Bolsonaro is one of his closest contacts in Israel: Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan. At the request of the presidential candidate's campaign team, Dagan has held a series of Zoom meetings over the past two weeks with political leaders and religious figures in Brazil, aimed at encouraging them to work for Bolsonaro's election and to mobilize their communities to turn out and vote. Political analyst Danny Zaken of Israel Hayom wrote this morning about the connection: "Political cooperation that could also affect Israel's standing in the international arena."

Last January, Bolsonaro visited Judea and Samaria together with his brother Eduardo as Dagan's personal guest. Bolsonaro visited the Samaria overlook and said: "I want to express my full solidarity with the residents of Judea and Samaria for what they have been through. I hope that Hashem will bless this land and the people who live here more and more. I give all my support to the people of Judea and Samaria, and it's good to know that you are in strong hands - with Yossi Dagan. We are together with you."

At the end of his remarks, the Brazilian presidential candidate agreed with the Samaria council head that his first visit as president would be to Judea and Samaria. Over the past week, the Samaria council head has held a series of Zoom calls in which he encouraged hundreds of political leaders and religious figures in Brazil to help Bolsonaro.

Dagan told the leaders in one of the meetings: "These important elections are critical for the future of Brazil, for the future of America and for the future of our relationship, and we need Flavio Bolsonaro to be the next president."

In addition, a joint video of Bolsonaro and Dagan from Bolsonaro's visit to Judea and Samaria several months ago, in which Dagan calls for voting for Bolsonaro, was distributed by the campaign team of the leading presidential candidate --- and went viral.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan says: "The elections in Brazil are of great importance to Israel and to Judea and Samaria. In the face of international pressure on the settlement enterprise, we need friends who will stand by our side. I strengthen my close friend Flavio Bolsonaro, wish him success and am confident he will succeed. His success will be the success of the entire enlightened world, a victory of justice over lies and backing for those who fight terror and seek to live in their land in security."

For Judea and Samaria, political support from Brazil could take on special importance in light of the international pressure being advanced by pro-Palestinian elements. If Bolsonaro is elected and the relationship translates into policy, it could help strengthen backing for Israel and the settlement enterprise, and later also expand international legitimacy for the application of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.