Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will express his country's support for peace efforts in the Middle East when he travels to the region on Saturday, according to dpa. Lula, who is to visit Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan, said Friday that the situation in the Middle East "is more difficult by the day." "I am a man who was born in the politics of dialogue, I made it to my country's presidency through dialogue, I exercised my mandate through dialogue and I believe that, through dialogue, we will be able to solve all the conflicts that seem to be impossible to solve today," Lula said. The tour was scheduled late last year, when Lula hosted Israeli President Shimon Peres as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Presidential spokesman Marcelo Baumbach said Brazil seeks to contribute to talks towards finding "a fair and lasting solution to the Palestinian situation, acknowledging the state of Israel's right to exist in peace and security." Lula also plans to promote humanitarian measures to alleviate conditions in the Gaza Strip, Baumbach said, adding that he would criticize Israel's announcement of expanding settlements on occupied land. "Brazil will keep trying to contribute to the search for a solution to that conflict. Brazil has credentials to take part in that dialogue and will always seek to bring the parties closer to each other," the spokesman said. Lula's visit ends Thursday in Jordan with a meeting with King Abdullah II. He will attend the closing session of the Brazil-Jordan business meeting, before returning to Brasilia.
