Pro-Israel, Jewish legislation flies through first day of Florida special session

Florida's special legislative session began Monday with opening prayers from prominent members of the Jewish community. Their concerns and calls underscored what will be one of the largest themes in the Capitol this week.

"We join in prayer for the safety and well-being of the people of the land of Israel," said Rabbi Mendel Danow of Pensacola’s Chabad Jewish Center, speaking in the House chamber.

"Today we cannot and will not remain silent," 94-year-old Holocaust survivor David Schaecter told state senators. "We cannot stand by in the face of the tragic massacre."

This one-week session also will see bills on hurricane relief and school vouchers. But three out of the five measures lawmakers have been called to Tallahassee to pass stem from Hamas' brutal Oct. 7 attack on Israel and concerns of antisemitism.

Legislative leadership and Gov. Ron DeSantis want to show support for Israel and the state's Jewish communities — and to crackdown on those who may be opposed to them.

That legislation is flying through the Capitol with little to no opposition. But there is an undercurrent of drama to this special session, and not just the usual tension between Democrats and Republicans.

Iran sanctions and Pro-Israel resolutions

Lawmakers on Monday largely agreed with a pitch by DeSantis’ to expand state sanctions against Iran in response to its support of Hamas. “We shall use all available means to choke off money going to the Iranian regime,” DeSantis said while previously promoting the measure.

A bill aimed at that passed committees in both the Senate and House Monday. But four Democratic House members dissented. The measures are expected to be up for full votes Tuesday in the House and Senate.

Both chambers have also put forward resolutions expressing support for Israel and its "right to defend itself and protect its citizens from indiscriminate violence and acts of terrorism."

"It's been a very difficult time for members of the Jewish community worldwide, so I have drafted this resolution that I am asking all of you to support," said Sen. Lori Berman, D-Palm Beach, a resolution sponsor. It passed unanimously from the Senate Rules Committee, its only stop before going to the floor.

Security grants would cover Jewish schools

Florida lawmakers additionally are pushing legislation that provides security grants for the Jewish community.

Senate legislation directs $25 million to strengthen security at Jewish schools. Another $10 million would be used for nonprofit organization security, with priority given to "houses of worship" or ones with facilities frequented daily by "children or students."

"We must remember to never allow the forces that discriminated scattered, shattered Jewish lives and nearly extinguished Jewish life from our world to again gain a foothold,” said Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami, the bill sponsor. "We endeavor to make Florida the second safest place in the world for the Jewish people."

An amendment for the House version of the legislation, filed by House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa, doubles the amount given to nonprofits, making it $20 million overall. Both measures passed their first and only committees Monday.

Jewish community testifies in support of security bill

A number of people from the Jewish community testified in support of the security funding. That includes Eli Hagler, executive director of Brauser Maimonides Academy, a Jewish day school in Dania Beach.

"What message are we sending to our children and if they cannot come to school and feel safe?" Hagler said at a Senate Fiscal Policy Committee meeting.

But that's what is happening, he said.

On Oct. 13, the date Hamas designated as a "day of rage," 30% of the more than 660 students at the academy didn't show up, he said. That's despite private security and law enforcement protection.

"Let us ensure that our Jewish day schools remain a sanctuary for learning, where our students can grow into informed, compassionate and empowered citizens," Hagler said.

Also testifying was Schaecter, who lives in Miami-Dade County.

"Not a day goes by without me reliving the horrors of my childhood, and I am here to make sure there is meaning to the phrase 'never again,'" said Schaecter, in a speech that left some in the committee room crying.

"I urge you all to stand with me and view the world through my eyes, as someone who watched marches and protests in Europe lead to gas chambers and mass graves," he said. "Now is the time to take action and ensure this behavior is not tolerated here in our beloved America, before the demonstrations escalate to more violent actions and lead to even greater, more tragic, cases."

Schaecter is referring in part to Pro-Palestinian demonstrations at college campuses across Florida and the nation.

Many protesters have expressed approval of Palestinian resistance against Israel, chanting things like "resistance is justified when people are occupied" and "Palestine is our demand, no peace on stolen land." They accuse Israel of suppression and genocide. Some say they support Hamas.

More than 10,000 Palestinians – including 4,100 children and 2,640 women – have been killed in the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. More than 1,400 Israelis have died, mostly civilians slain in Hamas' Oct. 7 incursion into Israel.

The protests have alarmed some state lawmakers and even emboldened an influential lawmaker to turn against DeSantis.

Randy Fine turned against DeSantis

Days after the attack, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, called on the governor to expel college students expressing support for Hamas.

While First Amendment experts question the legality of the move, Fine says it's required, citing a 2019 anti-discrimination law he sponsored and DeSantis signed.

Spokespeople for DeSantis said the governor agreed with Fine and pointed to how he had directed college and universities to comply with the law.

But Fine, who is Jewish and a longtime supporter of DeSantis, publicly broke with him soon after. He endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, accusing the governor of mishandling concerns from the Jewish community.

On Friday, Fine – already a sponsor of the security legislation – filed a separate pro-Israel resolution. This one, though, condemns not only Hamas, but also antisemitic "rhetoric and public displays, which create unsafe learning and working environments for Jewish citizens, whether in Congress or on college campuses."

On Saturday, multiple lawmakers who previously supported DeSantis defected to Trump. Then came Monday, where those lawmakers convened with the majority of legislative Republicans who are still publicly pro-DeSantis for the coming election. The governor, trailing far behind Trump, is participating in the third GOP presidential debate in Miami on Wednesday.

Capital Bureau reporter John Kennedy contributed. This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule is based in Tallahassee, Fla. He can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com. X: @DouglasSoule.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida special session: Israel, Jewish security bills move forward