GOP leadership files bipartisan proclamation supporting Israel, pushes for sanctions on Iran
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, filed a joint proclamation to express how Florida stands with the state of Israel following Hamas’ terrorist attacks.
“Today the senate president and I have filed a joint proclamation condemning the barbaric attack by Hamas and unequivocally supporting the right of the state of Israel to exist as a sovereign nation and defend itself in this moment,” Renner said at a press conference.
“We know the Iranian regime funds Hamas and assists other terror groups,” he added. “Therefore we support Governor DeSantis’ legislative proposal announced last week to sanction Iran.”
The governor had called for lawmakers to block Iranian business in Florida.
Renner noted during the Wednesday press conference that the relationship between Florida and Israel has “never been stronger,” citing that Florida had $650 million in bilateral trade with Israel in 2022.
Passidomo said she is proud to stand with Renner and Minority Leader Lauren Book, D-Davie, and other legislative colleagues to show support for Israel.
“As a state government, under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, we are doing everything within our authority to protect Floridians from the dangerous regimes that fund these terrorist operations,” Passidomo said.
“While we cherish the alliance between our governments, we also recognize the bonds of unity and friendship that link so many Floridians and Israeli people,” she added.
Jewish Florida Rep. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne, who helped champion many pieces of legislation against anti-Semitism, gave a passionate speech at the Wednesday press conference.
“The Holocaust never ended. It just went into hibernation,” Fine said. “What could drive a person to take a knife and cut the head off a baby?”
“Thousands entered Israel 10 days ago with one single purpose. It wasn’t to free Gaza. It was to see how many children they could kill, how many families they could destroy,” Fine said.
Book said that as the Democratic leader and one of only three Jewish members in the Florida Senate, she proudly stands with the bipartisan coalition to show that the state of a Florida stands with Israel.
Book described the attacks by Hamas as “pure evil” on the nation call for Hamas to stop using civilians as human shields.
“There is no other way to describe these acts and as we mourn the tremendous losses we have suffered, we will not be silent,” Book said.
“Israel is absolutely, let me be clear, absolutely justified in its defense of the Israeli people here, in Florida, and across the glob,” Book said.
