São Paulo – The Embassy of Palestine in Brasília received earlier this week representatives of Rio Grande do Sul (pictured), the Brazilian state that concentrates the largest community of Palestinian and descendants. Mayors, presidents of associations of municipalities, and congressmen met ambassador Ibrahim Alzeben and discussed the immigration and friendship ties that bring Palestine and Brazil, particularly Rio Grande do Sul, together.
During the meetings, topics included the good relations between Brazil and Palestine and the role of Palestinian Brazilian communities. Alzeben said that Palestinian immigrants and refugees are very hard-working and brave entrepreneurs, so they had a key contribution for the economic, social and cultural progress of Brazil, and this role is even more powerful in Rio Grande do Sul, where there is a large community.
The ambassador asked that, besides the trade interests, the Brazilian solidarity towards the Palestinian people remains active. He pointed out that November 29 is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, established by the United Nations, it’s important to hold activities alluding to the date.
The group included Eduardo Bonotto (Progressistas), chairman of the Federation of Associations Municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul and mayor of São Borja; Ronnie Mello (Progressistas), president of the Association of Western Border Municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul (AMFRO) and mayor of Uruguaiana; federal deputy Afonso Motta (PDT); and Rio Grande do Sul state deputy Frederico Antunes (PP).
The meeting was also attended by mayors Márcio Amaral (Progressistas) of Alegrete, Jaber Mahmud (PDT) of Barra do Quaraí, Leonardo Betin (PL) of Itaqui, Gustavo Medeiros (PDT) of Manuel Viana), Jefferson Pires (PSDB) of Quaraí, and Ana Tarouco (União Brasil) of Sant’Ana do Livramento. The meeting was attended by Read Barakat, a businessman and president of the Union of Shopkeepers of Uruguaiana.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda