Portugal and Israel are closer than ever, and there are a variety of ways to prove this.
The one example I would like to focus on is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit here in Portugal almost two weeks ago.
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As it is publicly and widely known, the Israeli leader came to Portugal with a very busy agenda, with two major aims: to foster the bilateral relationship and to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Portugal is a trustworthy friend and ally of Israel and the US; Portugal always stands for freedom and democracy.
The meeting between Netanyahu and Pompeo was reportedly very productive, showing again the determination of the Trump administration to make real and long-lasting peace in the Middle East, without being biased in any way.
President Trump has fully demonstrated the multiple flaws of the globalist order, whose structures have been resolute in condemning – without due process of law whatsoever – Israel. The globalist order does not want a peace process; it just wants a peace narrative (which is written according to their twisted perception with their biases).
The globalist order, as a matter of fact, does not want peace by negotiation; the globalist order just wants peace by the constant weakening of Israel's security.
Therefore, it is extremely reassuring to know that Trump and Pompeo have not hesitated to stand side by side with the only democracy in the Middle East and will not play Iran's games. Here, in the beautiful city of Lisbon – a city where you are always welcome – Secretary Pompeo reaffirms again that a great world is one where the security of Israel and the Israeli people are fully guaranteed.
Netanyahu came to Lisbon not only to meet with Pompeo, he also met with Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa and Foreign minister Augusto Santos Silva.
Although Costa is a hardcore socialist, torn between the Communist Party and the bureaucrats in Brussels, he and Netanyahu hit it off, reaffirming the unbreakable tie between Portugal and Israel. These warm relations involve new collaborations in a variety of fields, such as in defense, cyberterrorism, entrepreneurship, and agritech.
We truly appreciate the gesture Netanyahu made when he went out of his way to meet with our prime minister. It was a sign of the friendship that unites both of our countries, and it also shows, without doubt, that every democratic force, every citizen who truly cherishes liberty, either from the Left or from the Right, stand in defense of Israel as well as in condemnation of terrorism and hate. Anti-Semitism has no place in Portugal.
And the good news – a real Christmas and Hanukkah gift – continues: The president of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will visit Israel next month, having accepted an invitation from President Reuven Rivlin to attend the events commemorating the 75th liberation of Auschwitz.
Additionally, I was told by an experienced journalist who works for a Portuguese news outlet and spends most of his time in Jerusalem that de Sousa will likely also pay homage to Aristides de Sousa Mendes – the Portuguese consul who rescued hundreds of Jews in Europe during World War II and is considered a Righteous Among the Nations.
It will be the first time a Portuguese president visits Israel since Mário Soares's address to the Knesset in 1995. And this time is particularly symbolic since de Sousa has Jewish heritage – his mother, Maria das Neves, was born in Covilhã, which has a strong and historic Jewish history and culture.
Finally, I want to congratulate the most cherished and highly admired Israeli Ambassador Raphael Gamzou, who has so ingeniously contributed to foster the eternal friendship between Portugal and Israel in the last year and a half.
Portugal and Israel are the new true BFFs.
