by Plínio Teodoro
Israeli Menachem Booky Halevy is one of the people identified in the exfiltration of Liberal Party (PL) Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro to the United States. Reports describe Halevy as a former agent of Mossad, Israel’s secret service. Flávio Bolsonaro was removed from Brazil two days after he lost the presidential runoff to incumbant President Lula da Silva, of the Workers’ Party (PT).
Like so many fleeing Latin American politicians and drug lords before him, Flávio Bolsonaro was whisked into Miami’s Opa Locka executive airport (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Halevy crossed the border from Foz do Iguaçu, in Paraná state, to Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, on the night of Oct. 27. He traveled with Roberto Jorge Alexandre, a former defense lawyer of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The two were in a van that crossed the border about seven minutes before being followed by a vehicle carrying Flávio Bolsonaro and his family.
TV Globo’s “Fantástico” revealed Halevy’s identity on Sunday, Nov. 1, based on Argentine immigration documents. The presence of a former member of one of the world’s best known intelligence services raises suspicions about the structure built to get Flávio Bolsonaro out of Brazil. Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) had barred him from leaving the country in accordance with Brazilian law, because he a suspect in a multi-million dollar money laundering investigation.
Who is Menachem Booky Halevy
Halevy is a dual Israeli and U.S. national. Reports identify him as a former member of Mossad. Little is publicly known about his career before the exfiltration. The reports do not say when he joined Israeli intelligence, how long he stayed or what role he held.
Mossad is the agency responsible for Israel’s foreign intelligence operations. Those include gathering information, covert activities and special operations outside Israel.
According to CNN Brasil, Halevy arrived in Brazil on Oct. 19, six days before the runoff. The date matters because planning for the escape may have started during the campaign, before Lula’s victory was confirmed.
Information released later indicates that Halevy made three other trips to Brazil in 2026. The purpose of those visits, where he went and whom he met in the country remain unclear.
The exfiltration operation for Flávio Bolsonaro was reportedly given the code name “Alba.”
Crossing the border with a lawyer for Jair Bolsonaro
Argentine immigration records gave new weight to the identification of Halevy. “Fantástico” reported that the records show him crossing into Argentina with Roberto Jorge Alexandre.
Neri Luiz Dala Corte has been identified as the van driver hired hired to take the passengers from Foz do Iguaçu to the Puerto Iguazú airport.
The van went through immigration control about seven minutes before another van linked to Flávio Bolsonaro’s entry into Argentina.
It is still unclear who hired Halevy, what role he played in planning the trip and whether he had contact with representatives of the Argentine or U.S. governments.
An international operation
Flávio Bolsonaro’s escape involved travel by land and air across Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and the United States. After crossing the border, he boarded a Gulfstream G400 with his family. The jet, registration LV-JQW, is operated by the Argentine company Baires Fly.
The plane stopped in Guayaquil, Ecuador, then landed at Opa-locka Executive Airport near Miami on the morning of Oct. 28.
The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that Jason Miller, an ally and political adviser of President Donald Trump, helped organize the flight. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denies that the United States took part in organizing the escape.
In Argentina, reports on how the operation came together also named Santiago Caputo, a top adviser to President Javier Milei.
The mysteries surrounding the former agent
Halevy’s role leaves key questions unanswered. The first is who called on him and what ties he had to Flávio Bolsonaro or his allies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government may also have taken a direct part in the Bolsonaro family’s plan.
Another question is whether Halevy’s earlier trips to Brazil included meetings or preparations for Flávio Bolsonaro’s removal.
Who paid for the operation is also unknown. That includes the ground transport, the international logistics and the chartered plane.
The Federal Police is investigating how Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil despite a court order barring him from doing so.
The identification of Halevy is a new lead for reconstructing the network of people involved. So far, no court ruling has established Halevy’s criminal responsibility. There is no proof that Mossad took an institutional role in the exfiltration.
This article first appeared in Revista Fórum, was translated with express authorization of its editor-in-chief, and can be read in its original Portuguese here.