By Leah Waxler

Brazil is set to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed talks with President Jair Bolsonaro during a historic five-day visit.

“Bolsonaro told me it was “when, not if” he moves the embassy to Jerusalem,” said Netanyahu, the first Israeli leader to make an official trip to the South American country, during a press conference.

“We attach enormous importance to Brazil, and Brazil in the context of Latin America. This heralds a historic change.” 

Netanyahu noted that Israel could help Brazil across a range of areas including economics, security, agriculture and water resources.

Bolsonaro said Brazil needed “good allies, good friends, good brothers, like Benjamin Netanyahu”. 

The Brazil premier confirmed he had accepted an invitation to visit Israel, probably in March. 

Bolsonaro has come under political pressure on the impending move as it might affect exports to Arab nations. The Arab League, in turn, has reportedly told him moving to Jerusalem would be a setback to relations with Arab countries. 

Iran, unsurprisingly, denounced Brazil’s plans potential move to Jerusalem.

Netanyahu went on to meet Jewish community leaders including Conib president Fernando Lottenberg, a World Jewish Congress affiliate, in Rio de Janeiro. 

And following Bolsonaro’s inauguration, Netanyahu held talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Brasília with a number “common aims” under discussion.

Netanyahu prior to the meeting said he would discuss how to intensify cooperation on intelligence and operations in Syria to block Iranian aggression in the Middle East.

Netanyahu and Pompeo also met Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez.

Honduras appear set to follow Brazil’s embassy move to Jerusalem, in a bid to improve relations with Trump’s administration.

And Israel are considering elevating its Honduran consulate in Tegucigalpa to full embassy status.

The countries agreed to meet in their capital cities in a US State Department joint statement to “strengthen political relations”.

Hernandez welcomed an alliance that would bring a positive impact to Honduran people on social media.

The Central American country’s decision follows a meeting between Honduran politicians and Israel Foreign Ministry Director-General Yuval Rotem last month.