The attempted arrest of IDF soldier Yuval Vagdani in Brazil dominated Israeli headlines, causing widespread concern among Israelis considering travel to the South American nation. To shed light on the situation, Rega News spoke with Rafael Antaki, a lifelong Brazilian and leader of the Mizrachi Organization in Brazil.
“It Was Frightening”
“What happened was deeply alarming,” Rafael begins. “Antisemitism doesn’t suddenly explode; it grows from small, unnoticed acts until it becomes a monumental issue.” Rafael sees the arrest attempt as part of a broader campaign: “Trying to detain an IDF soldier on vacation here sends a dangerous message. It’s an attempt to portray the IDF as a terrorist organization. If successful, this narrative could paint Zionist advocacy on social media as support for terror, undermining our efforts to educate Brazilians about Israel.”
A Calculated Media Move
Rafael, however, downplays the judicial threat, calling the incident “a premeditated media stunt.” He explains: “Brazil’s judiciary assigns cases via lottery throughout the year. But during the summer (which is now in the Southern Hemisphere), courts operate on a reduced schedule with only one on-duty judge handling emergency cases. The Hind Rajab Foundation exploited this timing to ensure the case landed with a judge likely to support them.”
“The soldier was in Bahia, Brazil but the complaint was filed in Brasília, (a different region),” he continues. “This was a calculated move to steer the case to a sympathetic judge. The judge didn’t order Vegdani’s arrest; he only instructed federal police to investigate. Even then, the police returned the order without opening an investigation, citing their lack of jurisdiction over such matters. While Brazil is a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC), it lacks domestic laws to act on cases like this.”
Rafael concludes: “This was nothing more than a poorly executed media ploy. The complainant organization is led by a former Hezbollah operative, and the timing was deliberately chosen during a period when courts only handle urgent cases.”
“We Have Strong Allies”
Antaki emphasizes the importance of advocacy: “Our strongest tool is education. We collaborate with Evangelical organizations and right-wing politicians who are staunchly pro-Israel. We have several members of parliament actively supporting Israel and the Jewish community. People focused on the president’s statements don’t realize how much political support we have here.”
“We Will Win This Fight”
Rafael remains optimistic about the battle against antisemitism: “Our efforts are working. We hear more voices defending Israel with well-researched, factual arguments. Many organizations are contributing to this effort, and their impact is significant.”
He adds, “Despite the president’s rhetoric, public opinion is different. Polls show he likely won’t be re-elected due to political and economic missteps.”
Antaki concludes: “Antisemitism may be rising, but we will defeat it. Israelis are always welcome in Brazil, and we will greet them with open arms.”
