Amid the war between Israel and Hamas, Gov. Ron DeSantis this week called for sanctions against Iran for aiding Hamas and declared a state of emergency that, in part, would allow Florida to transport supplies to Israel.
The governor and Republican presidential candidate on Tuesday went to a synagogue in South Florida to announce that he will ask lawmakers to further block Iranian business ties in Florida. Iran had already been included in Florida’s list of foreign countries “of concern,” along with China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria.
With the “country of concern” designation, Florida since 2008 has prohibited state agencies and local governments from contracting for goods and services of more than $1 million with any business that has contracts with the Iranian government.
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DeSantis said during the appearance Tuesday at the Shul of Bal Harbour in Surfside that his new proposal will reinforce a commitment against doing business with state sponsors of terrorism. While a detailed proposal was not issued, it could affect such things as the financial, construction, manufacturing and mining sectors, according to information released by his office.
“We’re going to prohibit state and local governments from contracting with any company on this expanded sectors list, and we will not lift the sanctions until both the president and the U.S. Congress certify that Iran has stopped supporting international terrorism in seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction,” DeSantis said.
The governor’s proposal to broaden sanctions against Iran got immediate support from Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, and House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast.
But Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat whose parents immigrated from Iran, questioned the effectiveness of the proposal.
“I have never even heard of a state sanctioning a foreign country, and the United States has already placed heavy sanctions on Iran which have been pretty constant through several presidents,” Eskamani said.
The 2024 session will start in January. Eskamani said resolutions have been filed for the session supporting the people of Israel. And she suggested Florida could expand “services and provide financial support for refugees.”
DeSantis followed up Thursday by issuing the emergency declaration, with his office saying the action would allow the Florida Division of Emergency Management to “bring Floridians home and transport necessary supplies to Israel.”
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The declaration came as the federal government said it was arranging charter flights to transport Americans. Some commercial airlines halted service to Israel amid the escalating war that started Saturday with Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel.
DeSantis’ order, in part, called for the activation of the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard as needed and authorized the state emergency management director to carry out an emergency-management plan and “other response, recovery and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency, including any logistical, rescue or evacuation operations.”
A news release from DeSantis’ office did not provide details about how bringing Floridians stateside and transporting supplies to Israel could be undertaken.
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