FLORIDA — On Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced his first international trade mission will be to Israel, affirming Florida's support of the State of Israel, he said during an event hosted by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.  

During the event, Governor DeSantis also outlined three major steps Florida will take to stand with Israel. 

“Florida is the most Israel-friendly state in the country and we will not stand for discrimination against the Israeli people of any kind,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.

Gov. DeSantis has called for a minimum of $2 million in recurring funding for security for Jewish Day Schools. Following the tragic anit-Semitic attack in Pittsburg in October 2018, DeSantis said Floridians should feel assured that students and staff are safe at Jewish Day Schools throughout the state.  

DeSantis also wrote a letter instructing the Department of Management Services to prohibit state workers and contractors from being reimbursed for official travel expenses incurred through the services of vacation rental company Airbnb. 

This follows a statement by Airbnb on November 19, 2018, outlining a policy that would no longer allow the rental of approximately 200 listings in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. 

DeSantis has also asked Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz to ensure hurricane disaster survivors will not be impacted by this Airbnb directive.

DeSantis' trip to Israel, a promise he made during his campaign for Governor, will take place after the Legislative Session in May. 

He said the focus of the trip will be to expand commercial ties between Florida and israel as well as to learn from innovative research from Israeli scientists to combat issues facing Florida such as ride tide.