In a surprising turn of events, Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida and a potential 2024 presidential candidate, is receiving widespread pushback following his recent claim that he orchestrated a mission to send military equipment to assist Israel in its operations in Gaza.
DeSantis proudly declared that he had collaborated with Israel’s Consul General in Miami to transport a range of military equipment, including drones, body armor, and helmets. According to his office, this operation aimed to deliver weapons and ammunition to Israel through private channels. It was part of a highly visible “rescue operation” that involved the transportation of humanitarian supplies on chartered flights and the repatriation of hundreds of U.S. citizens who wanted to return home after the Hamas attacks.
However, this assertion began to unravel when Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, Israel’s Consul General, stated that he had not requested DeSantis’s assistance. Elbaz-Starinsky clarified that the governor’s role was limited to expediting paperwork requirements for a previously arranged shipment of “rifle parts” that were ordered by the Israeli government.
He remarked, “I am not aware and would find it very, very bizarre to think that somebody is procuring weapons and sending them to Israel. This is not how we work, and certainly not through privately funded initiatives.”
DeSantis has made unwavering support for Israel a central theme in his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. He has pledged to refuse entry to Palestinian refugees if he were to occupy the White House and has taken steps to expel pro-Palestinian student groups from Florida’s university campuses. He has also called for a special session of the Florida legislature to approve state sanctions on Iranian businesses and interests.
Critics argue that DeSantis is behaving as if he were the president and conducting a de facto foreign policy from the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee, which is not within his jurisdiction.
Nikki Fried, Chair of the Florida Democratic party, pointed out, “President Biden is the commander in chief of our military, not Ron DeSantis. As a navy veteran, Ron should understand the importance of respecting the chain of command. This is a gross breach of norms and a potential violation of federal laws governing the shipment of weapons.”
John Kirby, the Strategic Communications Director for the National Security Council, highlighted the need for following laws and regulations governing the export process when offering foreign assistance.
While it is not illegal for a state governor to provide foreign assistance, there are specific rules that must be followed, primarily through commerce channels.
A spokesperson for the Department of Commerce emphasized the importance of obtaining appropriate federal authorizations for those wishing to support Israel, in line with the President’s direction.
Elbaz-Starinsky confirmed that all necessary approvals for the rifle parts had been obtained but was uncertain whether it was DeSantis’s office that facilitated this process.
DeSantis’s office has since backtracked from its initial claim of directly assisting in sending weapons and ammunition, stating that the governor was contacted by the consul general’s office to help overcome federal bureaucratic obstacles associated with transporting these items.
This unfolding situation has raised questions about the extent of a state governor’s involvement in international affairs and the legality of such initiatives.
