Hillsborough County votes to allow county to invest in Israel
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Hillsborough County Commissioners voted to allow the county to invest in Israel during Wednesday morning’s meeting.
Hillsborough County Commissioners hold public hearing over Israel investment
The public hearing took over two hours and was filled with people speaking out against the vote.
The board voted six to one in favor of allowing the county to invest in Israel, which caused an uproar with the crowd.
Speaker after speaker lined up to the podium to speak out against the county allowing investment in Israeli bonds.
“As to the rest of you who have seen fit to prostitute yourself for Israeli interests, you are not fit for decent society, let alone political office. You are an embarrassment to the country, I sincerely wish upon you what you clearly wish upon the Palestinians,” said one of the speakers.
“I had to leave my clinic today so I could come speak out against the most insane policy I’ve ever seen on the board. You should all be ashamed, as to the Israeli bonds, which should actually be called the occupied Palestinian bonds,” said another speaker against the vote.
This vote comes at a time when protests of the war in Gaza have been widespread across the nation.
Emotions were high during the meeting as some people had to get escorted out.
Not everyone was opposed to the board voting for an ordinance amending the county’s investment policy.
“It simply provides the county with discretion to make such investment should the county determine an investment would align with its overall investment strategy and otherwise satisfy its fiduciary obligations to the citizens’ of Hillsborough County,” said someone for the vote.
“It is providing you additional options to consider, on that point, I want to say thank you and I do think you want to consider these other options,” stated another speaker.
Florida increased its investments in Israel after the Hamas attack in October.
Before Wednesday’s vote, the county could not invest due to local ordinances.
“It’s no mistake that I’m the one who brought this item, I’m proud that I brought it, I still stand behind it,” said Commissioner, Michael Owen.
“I’m concerned that this board has created controversy about county bonds and finances where we shouldn’t have,” stated Commissioner, Pat Kemp.
This amendment does not mean the county is automatically going to invest in Israel or require any purchases, this change just gives the county the ability to invest up to $25 million in Israel.
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