The recent controversy surrounding the invitation of Israeli historian Ilan Pappé to the Paraty International Literary Festival (Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty, or Flip) has highlighted the coordinated actions of pro-Israel organizations in Brazil. A Jewish historian openly critical of Zionism, Pappé was targeted by pressure campaigns seeking to suppress his participation in the event, revealing how such lobbying influences cultural and political narratives.
In an interview with BdF this Thursday (21), Bruno Huberman, professor of International Relations at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), explained how unconditional support for Israel aims to delegitimize critics, restrict public debate and, paradoxically, fuels antisemitism.
“In Brazil, there are no formal lobbying entities like in the United States. What we have are organizations that defend the State of Israel in various ways, working in coordination and in partnership with CONIB [Brazilian Israelite Confederation],” he explained.
Huberman emphasized that the dispute over narratives related to Palestine and Israel unfolds in public opinion forums, including cultural events.
“Flip is a space frequented by intellectuals from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, members of state-level elites who strongly influence the media, centrist and center-left politicians, and progressive movements,” he noted.
According to him, the influence of pro-Israel organizations is not confined to elite circles. It also reaches municipal and federal politics, shaping public perception and social attitudes.
“It’s a political dispute over where Brazilian public opinion stands,and how that translates into effective policies, such as energy workers’ federations calling on Brazil to impose an energy embargo on Israel in support of Palestinian freedom,” he added.
Propaganda and Hasbara as long-standing Israeli strategy
Huberman pointed out that Israel’s strategic use of propaganda has long been central to its foreign policy. “The State of Israel has always recognized the importance of international propaganda. This is where the term Hasbara comes in: an information warfare effort involving training, message coordination, and the dehumanization of Arab peoples,” he explained.
A common tactic, he said, is equating Judaism with Zionism. This tactic can have dangerous implications. “Understanding how this lobby operates is crucial. Equating Judaism with Zionism places Jewish communities at risk. When any criticism of Israel, even by Jews, is labeled antisemitic, that’s a deliberate strategy to silence dissent,” Huberman argued.
