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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis addressed a conference in Jerusalem on Thursday , emphasizing his support for the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and criticizing Biden administration Middle East policies.
Speaking at a conference organized by the Jerusalem Post, DeSantis who is believed to be preparing for a run in 2024 to be the Republican nominee, said that Florida had supported Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel even before former President Donald Trump, who announced his candidacy for 2024, recognized it as such in 2017.
"With Israeli sovereignty over the city of Jerusalem, people have the ability to visit those sites freely. That would not be true if it were in other hands," noted DeSantis. He also said that the US must make every possible effort to keep its embassy in Jerusalem.
The governor criticized the Biden administration over the 2020 Abraham Accords’ follow-up, arguing that Washington was unhelpful on enlarging the circle of peace to more countries in the region. “This administration has worked overtime to alienate the Saudis. I think that with proper policy and with proper relations you could see Saudi Arabia recognize the existence of Israel,” he said.
"What's right with the Middle East is Israel. What's right with the Middle East is Israel working with the UAE and Bahrain. What's wrong with the Middle East is Iranian terrorism, is Iranian ambition." stated DeSantis.
Addressing the judicial overhaul, pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and criticized by the Biden administration, DeSantis said, "We must also, in America, respect Israel’s right to make its own decisions about its own governance. You’re a smart country, you figure it out. It shouldn’t be for us to butt in to these important issues."
DeSantis has long supported Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem and West Bank settlements. When he last traveled to Israel in 2019, he visited the Etzion settlement bloc and the settlement city of Ariel. In his recent book, he claimed he helped lay the groundwork for Trump’s decision to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
While in Israel, DeSantis signed an anti-hate bill that would strengthen Florida’s ability to fight antisemitism. Republican state representatives Mike Caruso and Randy Fine, who sponsored the bill, joined DeSantis in Israel for the signature ceremony.
DeSantis is set to meet with Netanyahu and also with President Isaac Herzog on Thursday night or Friday. Netanyahu has been criticized in past years for supporting Republican presidential candidates, such as Mitt Romney, raising the ire of the Democrats. Still, ahead of DeSantis’ visit, Netanyahu confirmed that he intends to meet with him.
Interviewed on CBS last Sunday, Netanyahu said "Of course, I'll meet with everyone. Why not? I meet with Republican governors and Democratic governors. I’m not avoiding the question and actually I’m rushing right into it. I’d meet with every American representative, governor, senator, members of Congress.”
