The Florida Treasury will invest an additional $25 million into Israel bonds, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced in a press release Wednesday.
Patronis’s announcement comes a day after he issued a proclamation supporting Israel amidst attacks from Hamas, an armed Palestinian organization.
The purchase brings Florida’s total current investment in Israel bonds to $80 million, the largest total ever held at one time by the state, according to the press release.
“Florida and Israel have deep economic and personal ties, and our state unequivocally stands with Israel following the heinous Iran-backed terrorist attacks this week,” Patronis wrote in the press release. “To the people of Israel, Israeli Americans, and Jewish Floridians across our state, Florida is proud to stand with you.”
In 2007, the Florida Legislature granted permission for municipal and county governments to invest in Israel specifically.
The Florida Treasury has purchased $190 million in Israel bonds under Patronis’s leadership since 2017, generating $6.4 million in interest.
Development Corporation for Israel – commonly known as Israel Bonds – invests cash generated from bond purchases into the Israeli economy.
On Tuesday, the company launched an international social media campaign urging the public to “invest in Israel bonds to provide the nation with financial resources at its darkest hour.”
Israel Bonds Executive Director Mark Ruben said Israel can use the money “for whatever they need to do, and obviously, right now they need to defend themselves,” according to Sun Sentinel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Sunday following a surprise coordinated attack from Hamas.
Israel has since initiated a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, where more than 2.3 million Palestinians live.
As of Wednesday, over 300,000 Israeli soldiers have amassed near Gaza in preparation for a possible ground assault.
Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority – which is separate from Hamas – says Palestinians have a right “to defend themselves against the terrorism of settlers and occupation forces.”
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