A Brazilian journalist working for one of the country's largest media outlets apologized after saying on Tuesday (Tuesday) that the only way Brazil could equal Germany's wealth was possible only if they killed all the country's Jews.
Jose Carlos Bernardi, who works for Jovem Pan, a media body that includes right-wing TV and radio stations, said the provocative remarks during a discussion on former Brazilian President Louise Insio de Silva's visit to Germany.
"If we kill a trillion Jews and acquire their economic power, then Brazil will get rich. That is what happened to Germany after the war," he said.
Bernardi's comments received much criticism, some of which accused him of inciting violence and repeating antisemitic stereotypes about the connection between Jews and economic wealth.
One of the Brazilian newspapers even considered that in Sao Paulo it was examined whether to file a lawsuit against him for incitement to hatred.
"I apologize for my unfortunate remarks," Bernardi said in his apology.
He added that in his remarks he intended to emphasize the injustice experienced by the Jews by Germany, and did not call on the people to act against them.
Despite the apology, Conib, one of the largest Jewish community bodies in Brazil, attacked Bernardi for his remarks: "They caused grief and headache to many Jews."
