TALLAHASSEE, FL—Florida's only Jewish Republican Lawmaker plans to file a bill next session equating Irish, Spanish, and Norwegian businesses to North Korean, Syrian, and Iranian companies, restricting those entities from working in Florida.
Why? On Wednesday morning, Ireland, Spain, and Norway said they would recognize Palestine as a state.
"In Florida, if you support Muslim terror, you will be treated like a Muslim terrorist," Rep. Randy Fine—a leading pro-Israel advocate—wrote on X. "Next session, I will introduce legislation that adds any country that recognizes 'Palestine' to Florida's list of scrutinized countries, with severe limitations on entities from those countries doing business with and in Florida,"
"Spain, Ireland, and Norway will join Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Syria, among others, on that list," he continued. "Govern yourselves accordingly."
In 2007, the Florida Legislature passed the "Protecting Florida's Investment Act", which assembled and published a list of "scrutinized companies" based out of threatening nations. Once a nation's companies are listed, Florida must seriously restrict business with those entities.
Currently, only Iran and Sudan are listed as "scrutinized countries" with prohibited businesses that had set up shop in Florida. The other scrutinized countries include Syria, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela in some cases, and—as decided in 2016—countries "boycotting" Israel.
Under the 2016 alteration, Fine, who is running for state Senate, sees an opportunity to list Irish, Spanish, and Norwegian businesses as scrutinized companies.
Once placed as such, the State Board of Administration and its investment managers are banned from acquiring those companies' securities and must divest those securities if the companies don't stop boycotting Israel.
If a company stops boycotting Israel within 90 days of notice, it will be removed from the list of scrutinized companies and can avoid qualifying for divestment.
