Bolsonaro’s passport has been withheld by order of Moraes since February 8. The defense asked the STF to revoke this measure, but the appeal has not yet been judged. According to the lawyers, the release for the trip to Israel “does not pose any risk to the case” against the former president.
The Israeli government confirms the invitation to Bolsonaro. In a statement, the Israeli embassy states that Netanyahu called the former Brazilian president due to the “strong friendship” between the two “and the unreserved support expressed by Bolsonaro for Israel’s right to defend itself against the brutal terrorism of Hamas since the atrocities of October 7th”.
Politicians allied with Bolsonaro have already visited Israel. In March, Netanyahu received the governors of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), and of Goiás, Ronaldo Caiado (União Brasil), who criticized Lula’s statements that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Defense denied intention to escape due to stay in embassy
Lawyers deny that Bolsonaro sought to escape or seek asylum by staying overnight at the Hungarian Embassy. Moraes asked the defense for explanations after The New York Times revealed that the former president spent two nights at the Hungarian embassy days after being the target of the PF operation.
