Danny McAuliffe
The Florida House demonstrated on Wednesday its commitment to pro-Israel initiatives.
The chamber almost unanimously passed HB 545, a bill that prohibits businesses on the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List from doing business with the state. Immediately afterward, the House adopted a resolution (HR 1027) supporting both the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
Orlando Democrats Amy Mercado and Carlos Guillermo Smith and Kissimmee Democratic Rep. John Cortes voted against HB 545.
HB 545 is sponsored by Palm Bay Republican Rep. Randy Fine and Coral Springs Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz.
“House Bill 545 will make Florida a zero-tolerance state as it relates to anti-Semitism,” Fine said. He said under his bill state and local governments would be forbidden from engaging in business with companies involved in the boycott of Israel.
HR 1027 also is sponsored by Moskowitz and Fine. Moskowitz has said that the United Nations is trying to undermine the significance of Jerusalem to the Jewish people and that the “resolution supports the federal government’s action in no longer delaying the move of our embassy.”
Though the resolution has sparked fiery debate in the past.
During its hearing at a House Government Accountability Committee meeting last week, Fine asserted that a pro-Palestine testimony previously heard against the bill could be interpreted as a terrorist threat.
“If I heard right, the previous speaker basically threatened our constituents with terrorism if we voted for this bill,” Fine said, following a Florida State University student’s testimony against the bill.
The student, Reem Zaitoon, identified herself as an organizer for Students for Justice in Palestine. During her testimony, she said, “There will be no true peace and safety for any of your constituents as long as resolutions like this … are passed.”
Before the resolution’s passage on Wednesday, Moskowitz commended House Speaker Richard Corocran for his pro-Israel efforts.
In an interview with Florida Politics last week, Corocran said Israel is an “advocate and a fighter with us for peace throughout the world.”
2 comments
Ray Roberts
February 1, 2018 at 12:34 am
Clear violation of the first amendment…
Gerry Broak
February 4, 2018 at 5:31 pm
I wish that Randy Fine, Jared Moskowitz and all of their Florida House accomplices who participated in this lynching of the US Consitution would just emigrate to their Promised Land of Israel and leave the governing of our country to those of us who are not Israeli government agents.
These elected representatives took an oath upon entering office to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.
They have clearly and egregiously violated that oath. If they won’t emigrate to Israel, then they should be arrested, convicted and incarcerated.
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