Gov. Rick Scott will embark this weekend on a trade mission to Israel that he instantly made political on Wednesday by calling for the U.S. Embassy to be relocated to Jerusalem.
In announcing the trip, Scott echoed a campaign pledge by President Donald Trump to move the embassy from Tel Aviv, though Trump has backed away from the pledge for now.
“As we prepare for this important trade mission, it is clear that our entire nation must also continue to strengthen this partnership with Israel,” Scott, who is widely expected to run for U.S. Senate next year, said in a prepared statement. “I strongly believe that the U.S. Embassy belongs in Jerusalem, and I am hopeful that a decision will be made to finally move the embassy to the its rightful destination in Israel’s capital city.”
With a nod to ongoing peace talks, Trump signed a waiver in June that expires Friday to delay any relocation. Vice President Mike Pence announced Tuesday — while attending an event in New York marking the 70th anniversary of the United Nations call for the establishment of a Jewish state — that Trump continues to “actively” explore his campaign pledge to relocate the embassy.
Israel claims all of the historic city. However, the relocation is opposed by the Palestinian Authority, which views East Jerusalem as its future capital. The issue is particularly inflaming to Palestinians, who would see a move of the embassy as a provocation and a signal that the United States would then no longer be pursuing a two-state solution, as has been the stated policy of presidents since Jimmy Carter.
The trip to Israel will be the second as governor for Scott.
“Working with international partners like Israel is critical to strengthening Florida as a global destination for trade and to ensuring that our economy will continue to grow for years to come,” Scott said.
Scott previously went to Israel in 2011, one of 14 economic trips outside the U.S. Scott has taken in his role of governor. Most occurred during his first term. Among the countries he has visited, some on multiple occasions, are Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Japan, England, France and Spain.
The governor’s office said an outgrowth of a 2011 trip to Israel was an agreement between Space Florida and Israel regarding aerospace and technology projects.
The upcoming trade mission will include meetings with business owners, a recognition that Israeli airline El Al recently launched direct flights from Miami to Tel Aviv, and the signing of agreements between universities supporting joint research, according to a release from the governor’s office Wednesday.
Scott’s delegation for the trip is expected to include about 70 people, though the release from the governor’s office did not identify them. It also didn’t provide details about who they will visit, where they go and how long they will be in Israel.
–News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive
Really says
The alien speaks. I am sure any trade talks will line his pockets.
Sherry says
Scott needs to stay OUT of foreign policy matters! How in the world does he think it is appropriate for him to do such things?
Meanwhile trump’s retweeting of FAKE propaganda against Muslims shows that he is completely “unhinged”and Sarah Sanders says it does matter if the material trump is sending around is incorrect. . .DESPICABLE!
This from Politifact:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Like much other propaganda, the anti-Muslim videos spread around by President Donald Trump mix grains of truth, fakery and shades in between, overlaid with a message meant to be a blunt hammer blow for a cause.
Trump’s penchant for sharing doctored images and making false statements on Twitter means that content tweeted or retweeted by the president should be viewed skeptically. His spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, suggested the veracity of the videos wasn’t a high priority amid concern over national security and strong borders, saying: “Whether it’s a real video, the threat is real and that is what the president is talking about.”
Here’s a look at known facts behind the videos tweeted by a far-right British fringe group and retweeted by President Trump:
FALSE
One video shows a young man attacking another who is on crutches, near a river bank. It was originally posted to a Dutch viral video site in May and picked up by Dutch media. In her tweet, Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First, wrote: “VIDEO: Muslim migrant beats up Dutch boy on crutches!” But the victim was not attacked by a Muslim migrant.
“Facts do matter,” the Dutch Embassy in Washington said in a tweet directed at Trump. “The perpetrator of the violent act in this video was born and raised in the Netherlands. He received and completed his sentence under Dutch law.”
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jmb says
alright Gov Scott get that embassy moved
Anonymous says
Globalization my ass. This idiot has no business spending our tax dollars traveling the worldly. He is campaigning and talking smack at how this will benefit Florida. Show us how Governor!! You are a known schemer and Trump supporter who is using Trump to move up in politics. I hope you stay over there!!! You suck as a Governor, will never get elected to another position, and your term in office can’t come quick enough. It is painful to watch and listen to you speak publically, you haven’t got what it takes my friend.
Pogo says
@Putting the junk in a junket
Tricky Ricky should make Junket Man his middle name. Just goes to show that with enough Republicans anything can be elected and re-elected. Sad.
For those who have ignored the truth about tricky ricky – a few reminders:
rick scott and hca
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1&ei=lRMgWrqDIMnhmwGIiKWgBg&q=rick+scott+and+hca&oq=rick+scott+and+hca&gs_l=psy-ab.3…84236.95650.0.96699.25.23.0.1.1.0.325.3348.0j11j5j1.17.0….0…1c.1.64.psy-ab..7.16.2929…0j33i160k1j33i21k1j33i22i29i30k1j0i22i30k1j0i67k1.0.ZGAzalaJVF4
fl loses most medicaid funds
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1&ei=ZBYgWsKVNov4mAH6ibuIDw&q=fl+loses+most+medicaid+funds&oq=fl+loses+most+medicaid+funds&gs_l=psy-ab.3…39135.66132.0.67353.40.38.0.0.0.0.476.6846.0j21j6j3j2.32.0….0…1c.1.64.psy-ab..10.24.4876…0j33i21k1j33i160k1j0i22i30k1j0i131i67k1j0i67k1j0i131k1j0i10i67k1j33i22i29i30k1.0.TWcs3l6xXvE
Edith Campins says
He is a Trump wannabe.
Anonymous says
Follow the money…..it will take you to the corruption.