JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis delivered the keynote address at the Celebrate the Faces Israel event held at the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem.
The governor spoke about his long track record of support for the U.S.-Israel alliance throughout his time in public service. DeSantis also laid out his vision for the future of the region and America’s role in the world.
DEMOCRACY IS NO EASY TASK
“Maintaining a democracy in the heart of the Middle East has been no easy task and Israel has faced perhaps more challenges than any country has in the ensuing seventy-five years after independence,” DeSantis said.
Israel is also one of America’s most valued and trusted allies, according to the governor. Maintaining a strong relationship with Israel is something DeSantis said has been a top priority during his time in elected office – and a priority for the overwhelming majority of the American people.
“The U.S. has been proud to stand with Israel in the face of Israel being singled out for unprecedented and unfair international criticism and political attacks,” DeSantis said.
EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC TIES
DeSantis said a nationwide effort in the U.S. has made certain the story of the Holocaust is still being told. He recalled the time he was honored to present the Florida Medal of Freedom to a man named Ben Ferencz, who was the last surviving prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials.
“He was a hundred and three years old at the time, he’s recently passed away, but he led an extraordinary life,” said DeSantis. “When you see somebody like Ben Ferencz, you realize the importance of Holocaust education.”
The governor also drew attention to the strong economic ties between Florida and the Jewish state. DeSantis spoke of the historic trade mission in 2019 where Florida sent businesses and university faculty to Israel and even held a cabinet meeting at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.
That trip, DeSantis said, helped grow a tremendous amount of Israeli businesses that are now engaged all across Florida contributing to the economies of both Israel and Florida.
Watch the full keynote speech here:
