Roz Rothstein, founder of StandWithUs, invites Lula to visit Israel
Speaking directly from the headquarters of StandWithUs Brasil, Roz Rothstein — founder and current CEO of the organization — gave an interview to Folha de S. Paulo in which she addressed several points regarding President Lula’s views on Israel. She stated that if she had the opportunity to speak with the Brazilian leader, she “would invite him to visit Israel” so that he could get to know “a country he does not yet know” and thereby “open his mind to issues that trouble him.”
Asked about the reasons she believes led Lula and other leaders to distance themselves from Israel, Rothstein suggested factors such as the need to please political bases, lack of knowledge about the country, and even a “trend” of criticism. According to her, many have never visited Israel and are unfamiliar with its “context and history,” while in some cases there is also an antisemitic stance.
The journalist raised the context of the war in Gaza, noting that international leaders have expressed concern over civilian deaths and Israel’s military operations. Rothstein acknowledged that the conflict raises concerns on both sides, expressed sorrow for civilian victims, and emphasized that Hamas initiated the war on October 7, 2023. The attack left 1,200 Israelis dead, including children and young people who were kidnapped. She also recalled that Hamas vowed to “repeat the attacks” and asked: “If this happened on Brazilian or American soil, how long would the war last?”
When questioned about the relationship between Israel, Hamas, and Fatah, Rothstein explained that Hamas itself violently expelled Fatah members from Gaza after Fatah had won local elections. She said Hamas seized power, began controlling and manipulating the region, and invested billions of dollars in building tunnels instead of infrastructure. For Rothstein, it is essential “to separate truth from fiction.”
Regarding the impact of the war on StandWithUs, Rothstein reported that staff have been working under intense pressure. Before the conflict, the organization recorded about six cases of antisemitism per week; after the war began, that number quintupled. “People who were already antisemitic felt they had permission to come out of the closet,” she said.
She also stressed that StandWithUs has never received “a single cent from Israel or the United States” and that its accounts are public, since it is an independent educational organization.
