Israeli Intelligence Assists Brazil in Thwarting Hezbollah-Tied Attack on Jewish Community

Brazilian police arrest two individuals suspected of planning antisemitic acts, with Israeli intelligence agency Mossad's assistance helping to uncover a Hezbollah-linked network operating in various countries.

Brazilian police, assisted by Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and other international agencies, arrested two individuals suspected of planning attacks on the country's Jewish community. The arrested men are allegedly linked to Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran.
Hezbollah was reportedly gathering information on synagogues and Jewish centers in Brazil that could potentially be targeted in future attacks. The group's interest in Brazil is due to the ease of obtaining falsified documents and the country's proximity to drug trafficking groups.
Brazil has seen a rise in antisemitic reports and far-right extremism, with an observed growth in neo-Nazi groups. A research estimate suggests there might be over 1,000 active neo-Nazi groups in the country. Incidents of antisemitism reported in the past month have significantly increased compared to the previous year.
Brazilian federal police carried out 11 search and seizure raids across the country in connection to this investigation. This operation aimed to interrupt the preparation of potential terrorist attacks and gather evidence on the possible recruitment of Brazilians for extremist activities.
Although Brazil has not had a history of domestic terrorism, some in the Jewish community expressed little surprise at the discovery of such a plot, noting that ongoing conflicts in the Middle East could potentially be transferred to their inclusive and tolerant society.