Special Session may mean a fast track for resolutions supporting Israel

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Special Session may prove a fast route for Florida to formally stand with Israel.

No details of the legislation on tap for the Special Session have been formally laid out, but sources say that filed resolutions expressing support for Israel are likely to be on tap.

“Support for Israel” is the second item on Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s memorandum for Special Session C, just behind Hurricane Idalia relief. It mirrors similar resolutions (HR 125 and SR 126) that were both filed the next business day that bombs started to fly in the Holy Land.

Before this, the start of the regular Session would have been the soonest those resolutions could have been addressed.

“During the Special Session, as a full Senate, we will have the opportunity to formally express support for the State of Israel to exist as a sovereign, independent nation,” Passidomo wrote in her memorandum.

The Special Session is slated to start Nov. 6.

Both bills resolve to express “unwavering support” for Israel’s sovereignty and its right to defend its borders. Democratic Rep. Katherine Waldron filed the one in the House. And Democratic Sen. Lori Berman filed the one in the Senate.

Both call for members of Florida’s congressional delegation to bring a copy of the approved resolution to Israel’s ambassador, “as a testament to the enduring partnership between our states and the unwavering support of the state of Florida for the state of Israel.”

Both resolutions condemn “this unprovoked attack by Hamas against Israel and supports Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens from indiscriminate violence and terrorism.”

Passidomo’s memorandum has the same language.

A rift between Democratic lawmakers and Republican ones in the Jewish Legislative Caucus had emerged in the immediate wake of the Hamas attack. And two Republicans complained that the caucus leadership hadn’t acted swiftly to take a stand supporting Israel.

But the caucus put out a statement this week that showed the two Republican Reps. Mike Caruso and Randy Fine were on board with the caucus statement.

“The Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus stands together with our leadership who condemned the terrorist atrocities of Hamas and Iran visited upon the people of Israel,” the statement read. “There is no room in a civilized world for inhumanity and acts of violence.”

Anne Geggis

Anne Geggis is a South Florida journalist who began her career in Vermont and has worked at the Sun-Sentinel, the Daytona Beach News-Journal and the Gainesville Sun covering government issues, health and education. She was a member of the Sun-Sentinel team that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Parkland high school shooting. You can reach her on Twitter @AnneBoca or by emailing [email protected].


6 comments

  • PeterH

    October 21, 2023 at 8:44 am

    Is there something more to this than political grandstanding and pandering for votes?

    • Michael K

      October 21, 2023 at 9:15 am

      There never is anything more than that these days.

    • Earl Pitts "Florida's BIG VOICE on The Right" American

      October 21, 2023 at 9:56 am

      Good mornting Florida Patriots,
      I would like to remind all, Patriot voters along with any elected Florida Senate/Florida House members who would like to get re-elected, that Senate President Passadomo (who single-handely cheated Florida out of “Full Constitutiomal Carry”) will still be in control for this up-coming “Special Session”.
      If she injects simmilar RINO killing of anything Florida Patriots want then you surviving members of the House/Senate will all pay at re-election time.
      Your plan of saying “Passadomo Did It Not Me” wont work again like it worked last time.
      Passadomo’s got nothing to loose because she’s already out the door and likely going back to her knitting, pie baking, and whatever else granny’s do when they retire.
      You remaining Senators and House Members will get burnt at re-election time if you allow Passadomo any chance at setting the legislation up to be considered on the floor the way y’all allowed Passadomo to cheat Florida out of full Constitutiomal Carry at the last session.
      There ARE ways you can put a leash on Passadomo and the voters know it.
      H€LL NO we wont forget.
      You remaining legislators have just been advised,
      Earl Pitts American
      *and remember Passadomo is leaving – and you are not – Passadomo does not care if You get re-elected*

      • rick whitaker

        October 21, 2023 at 8:57 pm

        CAUTION ⚠ TROLL COMMENT BY EARL SHITS

  • My Take

    October 21, 2023 at 8:44 am

    “formally express support for the State of Israel to exist as a sovereign, independent nation”
    ≈========
    Now do the same for Palestine.
    The two-state sòlution.

    • rick whitaker

      October 22, 2023 at 8:43 am

      THE RIGHT WANTS WAR NOT SOLUTIONS

Comments are closed.


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