The São Paulo City Council approved, by an absolute majority, the creation of a parliamentary front dedicated to strengthening cooperation between Brazil and Israel
Named the Brazil-Israel Parliamentary Front for Social, Economic, Financial, Entrepreneurial and International Relations Development, the initiative represents an important step towards bringing the country’s largest city closer to one of the world’s most innovative nations.
This front does not signify the signing of an official and binding agreement between São Paulo and the Israeli government, but rather the formation of an internal working group within the City Council. The objective is to promote meetings, invite diplomats and businesspeople, encourage partnerships, and even suggest new laws that benefit the population of São Paulo. Councilwoman Cris Monteiro, author of the proposal, celebrated the approval as a “victory of common sense over ideological hatred.” According to her, amidst so much ideological noise, what truly prevailed was the city’s genuine interest in forming strategic alliances and developing intelligently.
Cris Monteiro emphasized that the front will not only be symbolic but will bring concrete results. She highlighted the potential for technological exchange between São Paulo and Israel, known worldwide as the “Startup Nation.” Israel, a country that faced scarcity of natural resources, transformed challenges into innovation, technology into prosperity, and knowledge into economic growth. This model of overcoming obstacles and creativity is exactly what the councilwoman wants to bring closer to the capital of São Paulo. Monteiro stated that São Paulo cannot afford to reject world-renowned leaders in areas such as technology, security, entrepreneurship, and public administration.
The initiative comes at a time of great international polarization. While many countries and movements promote boycotts and criticism of the Jewish state, São Paulo decided to give a clear response of support. ?In times of boycotts and persecution of the only Jewish state in the world, our city has given an important response to hatred,? declared the councilwoman. She recalled that the city had already demonstrated its commitment by adopting, in March 2024, the definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), becoming the second Brazilian city to do so, after Rio de Janeiro.
The creation of the parliamentary front in São Paulo follows the example of the National Congress, which in 2019 formed the Brazil-Israel Parliamentary Group to strengthen relations between the federal legislature and the Middle Eastern country. Cris Monteiro is an outspoken defender of Israel and the Jewish people. In August 2024, she visited the country and returned deeply moved. During the trip, she visited a kibbutz, the site of the Nova Festival, and families of hostages. She also visited the Beit Loren organization, which supports soldiers wounded in conflicts. In an interview with the Shalom Brasil channel, she said she was very touched by the encounters and impressed by Israeli resilience. ?I left Israel with a great desire to return. I will certainly return, in a time of peace, when the people of Israel can live in harmony,? she said at the time.
This parliamentary front opens doors for practical collaborations that can directly impact the lives of São Paulo residents. Israel is a benchmark in innovative solutions for urban problems, such as water management, agriculture in challenging environments, public safety, health, and technological education. Partnerships in this area could bring professional training, attract investment, and develop local startups inspired by the Israeli model, which transforms limitations into opportunities.
The decision by the São Paulo City Council reflects a pragmatic vision: prioritizing the well-being of the population above ideological disputes. In a city with millions of inhabitants, facing enormous challenges in mobility, employment, security, and innovation, seeking alliances with those who have already overcome similar problems makes perfect sense. Councilwoman Cris Monteiro has been an active voice in this regard, showing that it is possible to build bridges even in difficult times.
The approval by an absolute majority demonstrates that the idea resonated with various council members, regardless of party affiliation. This suggests a consensus around the importance of opening São Paulo to the world, learning from successful experiences in other countries. The initiative will allow for events, seminars, technical visits, and joint projects that bring Brazilian entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and public managers closer to their Israeli counterparts.
For the general population, this could mean more opportunities for training, new companies generating jobs, technological solutions to everyday problems, and a city better prepared for the future. In an increasingly connected world, gestures like this show that international cooperation, when focused on concrete results, benefits everyone.
The measure also reinforces São Paulo’s role as an innovation hub in Latin America. By aligning itself with Israel, the city signals its willingness to learn from the best and not to be closed off by prejudices or one-sided narratives. Cris Monteiro and the council members who supported the initiative understand that progress comes from dialogue, the exchange of knowledge, and the ability to look at what works in other places.
This recent history of the City Council illustrates well how local decisions can have a broad impact. While the global debate often gets lost in polarizations, São Paulo has chosen the path of practical development and friendship between peoples. The future will tell the fruits of this initiative, but the first step has already been taken with determination and a long-term vision.
Published in 05/04/2026 20h56
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption. Information about DOI, author and institution can be found in the body of the article.
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