Florida State Representative Wants To Cut Business Ties With Nations That Recognize a State of Palestine

The financial consequences could be significant if the bill requires Florida to divest from any entity doing business in those countries.

AP
A boy waves a Palestinian flag as demonstrators march during a protest in support of Palestinians and calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, at Barcelona, Spain, Jan. 20, 2024. AP

A Florida state representative, Randy Fine, wants to lump Norway, Spain, and Ireland in with North Korea and Cuba after the European countries said Wednesday they will soon start to recognize a Palestinian state. 

ā€œIn Florida, if you support Muslim terror, you will be treated like a Muslim terrorist,ā€ Mr. Fine writes on X. When the stateā€™s legislative session returns next March, the Brevard County representative says he will introduce legislation to add any country that recognizes a Palestinian state to Floridaā€™s list of countries with which it doesnā€™t do business. 

ā€œSpain, Ireland, and Norway will join Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Syria, among others, on that list,ā€ Mr. Fine writes. ā€œGovern yourselves accordingly.ā€

The financial consequences could be significant if the bill requires Florida to divest from any entity doing business in those countries. In 2023, Florida exported $8.6 billion to the European Union, whose common market Spain, Ireland, and Norway each belong to. Ireland, with a low corporate tax rate, has attracted global corporations that have big contracts in Florida, including Accenture and Google.

Mr. Fine is the only Jewish Republican in Floridaā€™s legislature and a longtime ally of Governor DeSantis. He has been an outspoken advocate for Israelā€™s war efforts at Gaza since October 7. As a term-limited representative in the state House, Mr. Fine is running for the Senate, and would file his bill in that chamber if he wins.


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