Former Florida gubernatorial candidate removed from county meeting over Israel investments protest

<p>James Fischback, a former Florida gubernatorial candidate, was removed from a Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday after protesting the county's increased investment in Israel-backed bonds.</p><p>Fischback questioned the county's priorities, asking, "Do you serve the people of Hialeah or of Haifa? Do you serve the people of Aventura or of Tel Aviv? Do you serve the people of South Miami or of Jerusalem? This money should be invested here in this community. It should be invested in Miami-Dade County," before being escorted out by officers.</p><p>The incident followed a county vote earlier this summer to increase its investment cap in Israel from 3% to 5% of its portfolio, allowing for investments of approximately $400 million to $450 million. This decision has faced opposition from individuals like Fischback, who criticize the use of public funds for investments in Israel amid ongoing political tensions related to the conflict in Gaza.</p><p>Fischback, a Republican, has gained attention for his views on race and has a reputation for confrontational public appearances. He was one of 11 GOP candidates in the primary to replace outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis, receiving 10.4% of the vote on August 18.</p><p>Fischback has previously made controversial statements, including calling Rep. Byron Donalds, a prominent Black Republican, a "slave" during a news conference, claiming he is beholden to corporate interests. He reiterated this sentiment during a confrontation with Donalds, using a megaphone to shout similar remarks.</p><p>Other attendees at the county meeting also expressed concerns about the investment change. One woman, identifying herself as Ivar Fandel, wore a "let Gaza live" shirt and stated, "Item 5B does exist in the context of a budget crisis as well as a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza at the hands of Israel," referring to the agenda item discussing the county's investment change.</p><p>During his campaign, Fischback positioned himself as a candidate who would not accept contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and pledged to divest from Israel-backed bonds. He criticized Florida's policy that allows taxpayer funds to be used for foreign government bonds, with the exception of Israel, arguing that taxpayer money should not be lent to foreign governments.</p><p>Fischback also criticized other candidates for what he described as a "singular allegiance" to Israel, stating, "The idea of saying ‘I am running to represent a foreign country’s interest in the United States Congress’ is preposterous. They’re buying allegiance," in a post on social media.</p><p>Fischback did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.</p>