Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will deliver an address next month in Jerusalem, a trip that is certain to inject the likely Republican presidential contender into Israel’s national tumult and its increasingly fraught relationship with the United States.
The Jerusalem Post and the Museum of Tolerance announced Tuesday that DeSantis would serve as the keynote speaker of the organizations’ April 27 event, his second trip to Israel as governor. The rollout of the planned foreign trip comes as the White House has escalated its rhetoric toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid his planned judicial reforms and intensifying unrest in the country.
In a statement to the Jerusalem Post, DeSantis seized on the rising tension between President Joe Biden and Netanyahu by signaling Florida’s continued unwavering support to the Jewish state.
“At a time of unnecessarily strained relations between Jerusalem and Washington, Florida serves as a bridge between the American and Israeli people,” DeSantis told the Jerusalem Post.
His statement did not address the widespread protests that have engulfed the Middle Eastern country following Netanyahu’s dismissal of his defense minister for speaking out against the proposed plans for the judiciary. DeSantis’ political operation did not respond to a request for comment.
The White House said Sunday it was watching the events unfold in Israel with “concern,” a week after Biden urged Netanyahu by phone to compromise on his controversial proposal. On Monday, it appeared Netanyahu had agreed to put the overhaul legislation on hold until after the Passover recess. That could mean DeSantis will arrive in Israel just as debate reignites over Netanyahu’s plans.
DeSantis has long positioned himself as an ally of Israel, visiting the country several times as a member of Congress and during his first six…
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