Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has provoked angry reactions in Israel with remarks on the Holocaust. "We can forgive, but we can not forget," he had said to the systematic mass murder of the Jews. The reference to forgiveness met with fierce opposition.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin wrote on Twitter: "We will never forgive and never forget." A spokesman for the Israeli Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem said: "Nobody has the right to decide if the horrible crimes of the Holocaust can be forgiven."

What Amalek inscribed in our memory, the memory of an ancient people. We will always oppose those who deny the truth or those who wish to expunge our memory - not individuals or groups, not party leaders or prime ministers. We never forgive and never forget

- Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) April 13, 2019

Bolsonaro had spoken at a meeting with evangelical priests in Rio de Janeiro about his recent visit to Yad Vashem. Bolsonaro emphasized the importance of remembering the Holocaust. "Those who forget their past are doomed to have no future," he said.

Netanyahu is silent so far

Rivlin said: "We will always oppose those who deny the truth or those who want to erase our memory - be it individuals or groups, party leaders or prime ministers."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bolsonaro's close ally, did not comment. Bolsonaro had visited Israel one week before the parliamentary election and demonstratively performed with Netanyahu at the Wailing Wall. Bolsonaro also announced - following the example of the US - the transfer of his country's message from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The embassy decision would be a break with Brazil's Middle East policy of recent years. The left-leaning predecessor governments of Dilma Rousseff (2011-2016) and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003-2011) supported a clear pro-Palestinian course (Read more about the Israeli-Brazilian relationship here).

Bolsonaro has been ruling Brazil since January. The ultra-right-wing politician won the presidential election in October 2018 against his rival Fernando Haddad of the Left Workers' Party (PT).