Brasilia [Brazil],November 10: Brazilian officials reacted strongly after Israel announced that it had assisted the South American country in foiling an attack plot by Hezbollah forces.
Brazilian police on November 8 announced that they had arrested two suspects in Sao Paulo state for plotting attacks in this country. Police did not specify the goals, motives and organizations of the two suspects.
AP quoted an anonymous Brazilian official confirming that the two suspects were recruited and financially supported by Hezbollah . O Globo newspaper reported that police arrested one of the two subjects at the airport in Sao Paulo when he had just returned from Lebanon, carrying information to carry out the attack. Hezbollah is a political-military force in Lebanon, considered a terrorist organization by Israel and many Western countries.
However, the Mossad intelligence agency and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later thanked the Brazilian police and announced that the attack plan was prepared by Hezbollah forces in Lebanon with the direction and sponsorship of Iran.
Israel said that it helped Brazil foil an attack plot targeting Israelis and Jews in Brazil. Hezbollah and Iran have not commented on Israel's statement.
In a statement on social network X later, Brazilian Justice Minister Flavio Dino responded that no foreign government representative should go before the ongoing investigation by the federal police. "We reject the notion that any foreign authority could direct Brazilian police agencies, or use our investigation to promote their own political interests," he said. Dino declared. He also noted that the investigation began before the Hamas-Israel conflict occurred in the Middle East.
Brazilian police rejected foreign officials' statements about their campaign, calling it a violation of international cooperation practices and could affect future campaigns.
A Brazilian police source said Minister Dino was angry because the Mossad's statement was misleading that Brazil was taking orders from Israel and could be seen as choosing sides in the conflict in the Middle East, according to Reuters. There are still about 30 Brazilians trapped in the Gaza Strip.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper