While in office, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has pointedly sought to show his personal commitment to supporting Israel and Jewish causes.
But on Friday, the Republican governor said he would pass on making a showboating trip to Israel as it deals with the crisis created by Hamas’ terrorist attacks two weeks ago.
DeSantis was reacting to comments made by former President Donald Trump, his chief rival for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
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“I may, I may go, I may go. My daughters did,” Trump told reporters outside a New York courtroom on Thursday when asked if he would visit Israel. “But I believe in letting them do what they have to do. They have to straighten it out.”
Trump’s comments came after President Joe Biden visited Israel earlier this week.
DeSantis said he’s rejected the idea of visiting Israel right now.
“I’ve been requested to kinda go over there. I know Biden went. I’m not gonna go over there at this time,” DeSantis said.
“I think to have politicians going over there, I think you’re getting in the way of what’s going on,” he added. “They’ve got a job to do. Our job here in the United States is to support them. They should be able to defend themselves to the hilt and get the job done, and that’s what I’ll be doing.”
DeSantis added that he knows other governors have been thinking about a trip to Israel, but “that’s not what I’m gonna be doing.”
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“I don’t think that’s going to be productive for them [Israel] to get the job done,” he said. “We’re helping from here. … We’re happy to be in the fight in that regard, but not for any theatrics.”
DeSantis has ordered at least three flights to Israel to retrieve Floridians and other Americans trapped in the war zone.
He also has dispatched 85 pallets of goods to Israel, including bandages, hospital gowns, IV kits, needles and syringes, ventilators, and surgical gloves.
DeSantis also shipped to Israel children’s toys, sleeping bags, personal hygiene products and clothing.
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