Foreign Affairs

The beginning of bilateral relations between Brazil and Palestine dates back to 1975, when the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), acting as the national liberation movement, was authorized to appoint representatives in Brasilia. In 1993, Brazil authorized the opening of the Palestinian Special Delegation in Brasília, whose status was equated to embassy in 1998. In 2004, a Representative Office of Brazil in Ramallah was opened. After Brazil recognized the State of Palestine in December 2010, the Special Delegation became the Embassy of Palestine.

In line with the principles established by the Federal Constitution and by the International Law, Brazil supports the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and a negotiated solution to the conflict with Israel, one that leads to two States, co-existing peacefully side by side.

In December, 2010, Brazil recognized the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, a move followed by almost all South American countries. Brazil supported and co-sponsored UN Resolution 67/19, which raised the status of Palestine in the United Nations to that of a non-Member Observer State.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made an official visit to Palestine in 2010. On the inauguration of President Dilma Rousseff, President Mahmoud Abbas visited Brazil, when he met with the President. In 2012, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, visited Palestine. More recently, the Vice-President of the Republic, Michel Temer, and the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, visited the country.

Humanitarian cooperation is an important aspect of bilateral relations. In 2007, Brazil donated US$ 10 million for humanitarian activities in Palestine. In 2009, it donated more US$ 10 million for the reconstruction of Gaza. IBSA countries also jointly donated US$ 3 million to Palestine, amount which was invested in health, education, agriculture and assistance to refugees. More recently, Brazil donated 11,500 tons of rice to UNRWA.

In 2013, Brazilian trade with Palestine recorded US$ 27 million. Trade with Palestine should benefit with the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement between MERCOSUR and Palestine, signed in 2011 and in internal approval process at the moment.

Chronology of bilateral relations

1975 – Establishment of relations between Brazil and Palestine. Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is authorized to appoint representatives in Brasilia

1993 – Brazil authorizes the opening of the Palestinian Special Delegation in Brasilia, with diplomatic status equivalent to an international organization

1995 – Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian National Authority and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization

1998 – Status of the Special Delegation of Palestine equated to that of an Embassy

2004 – Brazil opens Representative Office in Ramallah

2005 – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Celso Amorim, visits Palestine

2005 – Visit to Brazil of President Mahmoud Abbas, in the scope of the First Summit of South America - Arab Countries (ASPA)

2007 – Announcement, at the Donors' Conference for the Palestinian State, in Paris, of Brazilian donation of US$ 10 million for cooperation and humanitarian aid. Additionally, Brazil and its partners of the India-Brazil-South Africa Forum announced the donation of US$ 3 million from the IBSA Fund

2008 – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Celso Amorim, visits Palestine

2008 – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, Riad Malki, visits Brazil

2009 – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Celso Amorim, visits Palestine

2009 – In the Sharm El-Sheikh Conference, Brazil announces donation of US$ 10 million to rebuild Gaza

2009 – President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, visits Brazil

2010 – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Celso Amorim, visits Palestine

2010 – Communiqué of the IBSA Forum (India, Brazil and South Africa) declares to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state

2010 – Fatah Commissioner of International Relations, Nabil Shaath, visits Brazil

2010 – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits Palestine

2010 – IBSA Ministerial Meeting in Brasilia, with the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, Riad Malki

2010 – Brazil recognizes the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders

2010 – Palestinian Special Delegation in Brasilia becomes Embassy of the State of Palestine

2011 – President Mahmoud Abbas visits Brazil, on the inauguration of President Dilma Rousseff

2011 – With support and co-sponsorship of Brazil, the General Assembly of the United Nations approves Resolution 67/19, granting Palestine a non-Member Observer State status in the UN

2012 – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, visits Palestine (October 15)

2012 – Fatah Commissioner of International Relations, Nabil Shaath, visits Brazil

2012 – Minister of Labor of Palestine, Ahmed Majdalani, visits Brazil

2013 – Vice President Michel Temer visits Palestine

2013 – Minister of Health Alexandre Padilha visits Palestine

2014 – The Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Tarso Genro, visits Palestine

2014 – Donation of 11,500 tons of rice to the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees)

2014 – Brazil joins the UNRWA Advisory Commission

2014 – Brazil announces the donation of 6,000 tons of rice to the UNRWA on the occasion of the Gaza Reconstruction Conference, held in Cairo

2015 – Foreign Minister Riad Malki visits Brazil on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of President Dilma Rousseff

2015 – The Speaker of the Lower House of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, visits Palestine

2017 – Meeting of the Brazil-Palestine Political Consultations Mechanism (May 2)

2018 – Visit of Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira to Palestine (March 1-2)