PNN – Hebrew media reported that Israel’s support for a candidate is enough to cause that candidate to lose an election.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network—as cited by the Hebrew desk of Tasnim News Agency—it makes no difference where you are in the world; simply declaring yourself a supporter of Israel is enough to guarantee your defeat in an election.
In response to the victory of Brazilian presidential candidate Lula da Silva over Flavio Bolsonaro, this Zionist media outlet wrote: The defeated candidate had promised to expand relations with Israel—a pledge that ultimately led to his downfall. However, this phenomenon is not limited to Brazil; in Serbia, too, a candidate known for pro-Israel stances suffered a crushing defeat, bringing an end to his party’s 14-year hold on power.
It is further noted that the dramatic election results in South America and Europe have brought concerning news for Israel.
In Brazil, the incumbent president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, defeated Flávio Bolsonaro—a right-wing candidate who had adopted a pro-Israel stance and pledged to relocate his country’s embassy to Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, in Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić acknowledged his party’s defeat in the parliamentary elections, following 14 years in power.
Elsewhere, the report notes that in Brazil, 80-year-old Lula defeated Bolsonaro—the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro—in a decisive second round of the election. This victory defied predictions, given that the right-wing candidate had taken the lead in the first round. Lula is known for his harsh criticism of Israel; during the war in Gaza, he repeatedly accused Israel of committing “genocide.”
On the other hand, Bolsonaro had adopted a sympathetic stance toward Israel and, during his election campaign, promised to move the Brazilian embassy to Jerusalem. He also expressed his support for Israel’s right to self-defense. Following the announcement of the results, he stated that he did not recognize his defeat and would seek to have the election results overturned.
He claimed that the extension of voting hours was “unacceptable.” In contrast, Lula stated in his victory speech: We succeeded in convincing the people that voting is of paramount importance for the defense of democracy.
Serbia also witnessed a major political shift. The party of President Aleksandar Vučić—long regarded as a pro-Israel leader—was defeated in parliamentary elections by a student-led list that emerged from popular protests against the government. According to a statistical sample, this list secured approximately 52 percent of the vote, while the ruling party’s share stood at roughly 39 percent.
Vučić conceded defeat but claimed that certain parties in Europe and the United States had sought to topple his government.
Meanwhile, Hebrew-language media acknowledged that both situations raise questions regarding the future of relations with Israel in countries where leaders sympathetic to Israel face political defeat.