In an exclusive interview with The Floridian, Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) defended Israel as a key ally against Iran amidst the rise of antisemitic rhetoric in the U.S.
As antisemitic rhetoric continues to rise in the country, the Florida senator denounced attacks against Jewish communities in Florida, saying that it is “frustrating that some people don't support Israel.” "Israel's the only democracy in the Middle East, one of our best allies in the world,” he said.
Scott claims that the rise of antisemitism is coming from the same crowd that despises Judeo-Christian values, the “American way of life.” “When there's anti-Semitism, what they're saying is they don't like America's way of life. They don't like Judeo-Christian values, is what they're saying,” he explained.
In younger Republican circles, there has been a sharp rise in antisemitic and racist language that has been attributed to political figures like Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback.
Miami Dade GOP generated controversy this week after it was uncovered that Secretary Abel Alexander Carvajal ran a group chat that was notorious for encouraging and spreading racist ideas to college-age students.
“I don't get anybody that wants to attack people because of their religion. It doesn't make any sense to me," Senator Scott commented. "Let’s say I disagree with you, so what I am, that's not my right to go attack you because of your religion or your color of your skin or anything.”
In regard to the ongoing conflict with Iran, Senator Scott assessed that people want someone to blame, and they want to blame Tel Aviv for allegedly manipulating the U.S. into launching the strikes against Tehran.
“I think the argument they're trying to make is that they're trying to blame someone, anyone, and they're blaming Israel and saying that Israel is worse," Senator Scott argued, addressing comments from critics that "[Israel is] manipulating us."
Scott, however, argues that critics "seem to forget about the genocide that Hamas and Hezbollah's done over the years." “Iran has killed over 600 servicemen and women over the last 40 years and their proxies have killed Americans,” he added.
Vowing to fight against antisemitism, Senator Scott said, “We are fighting for American civilization. We're fighting for whether you are going to be able to raise your kids in a safe place. These anti-Semitic people hate our way of life and they're not just attacking Jews. They're attacking all of us.”
