Netanyahu Gives Rousing Speech to South Florida’s Jews
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to hundreds of Jews in South Florida after meeting with President Donald Trump. He called on them to "fight" and "win."
by COLlive Editor · COLliveBy COLlive reporter
Hundreds of people packed The Shul of Bal Harbour in Surfside, Florida, on Wednesday to hear Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
News reports said the visit brought heightened security, large crowds, and miles-long traffic backups to parts of Miami Beach and Surfside.
It was described as his first visit to South Florida and his fifth trip to the United States this year.
Netanyahu was in Florida to meet with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss continued attempts by Iran’s Islamic regime to rebuild its nuclear arsenal.
“President Trump has been unflinching, consistent. He never wavers,” Netanyahu told the crowd. “His gut, his heart—we don’t say ‘gut,’ we say his ‘kishkes’—his instinctive support for the State of Israel, his understanding of what is right and what is just.”
Netanyahu arrived at the shul with his wife, Sara Netanyahu, in the afternoon for an exclusive reception that included government officials and prominent donors. Among them was Simon Falic, chairman of Duty Free Americas.
Israeli officials in attendance included Minister of Transport Miri Regev, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon, Israel’s Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis, and Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter.
Elected officials included Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, Senator Ashley Moody (R-Florida), Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), and Congressmen Randy Fine (R-Florida) and Carlos Giménez (R-Florida).
Netanyahu then entered the sanctuary, where Rabbi Zalman Lipskar and many attendees from the Miami area greeted him.
“I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t go to Florida these days, and most of them stay,” Netanyahu said during his remarks. “It’s a pleasure to be among proud Jews and proud non-Jewish friends of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, to understand that unity, strength, and resolve are the guardians and guarantors of our future.”
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner told CBS News that the visit reflects South Florida’s growing prominence on the global stage.
“In the past, foreign dignitaries, especially the prime minister of Israel, would be in Washington, D.C., or New York, but not South Florida,” Meiner said. “This shows how much that has changed.”
In his remarks, Netanyahu adopted a motivational tone, encouraging Jews to stand firm in the face of antisemitism.
“I say to you, members of the Jewish community of the United States, the last thing you should do in the face of antisemitic attacks—the last thing you should do—is lower your head and seek cover,” he said.
According to JNS, Netanyahu added, “Don’t cower. Don’t lower your head. Speak up. Stand up. Fight back. That’s the important thing: fight, fight, fight. And then we shall win, win, win, with G-d’s help.”
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