Netanyahu congratulates Brazil presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro on first election round

Netanyahu invited Bolsonaro to visit Israel, while Bolsonaro extended an invitation to the prime minister to visit Brazil.

The Prime Minister's Office said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Thursday night with Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro and congratulated him on his success in the first round of the presidential election, as well as his party's gains in parliament.

Netanyahu invited Bolsonaro to visit Israel, while Bolsonaro extended an invitation to the prime minister to visit Brazil.

The Prime Minister's Office added that "The two intend to renew the deep friendship between the two countries, as part of the transformation taking place in Israel's relations with South American countries and the strengthening of ties that the prime minister is leading with leaders across the continent."

The conversation, described as "extremely warm," was also attended by Eduardo Bolsonaro, Flavio Bolsonaro's brother and adviser.

Bolsonaro to face incumbent president in election runoff

Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.

The election, which centered around the cost of living, corruption and insecurity in Brazilians' daily lives, follows a string of wins across Latin America by right-wing parties aligned with US President Donald Trump.