Miami Beach officials considered a tax-funded Israel trip. Donors say they’ll pay instead

Miami Beach elected officials will seek private funding for a trip to Israel to show solidarity with the country amid its ongoing war in Gaza, pledging Wednesday not to use taxpayer dollars for the mission during a heated City Commission meeting.

Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez had proposed that the city “identify funding” to send a 14-person delegation consisting of the city’s seven elected officials and seven community leaders “to demonstrate the city’s unwavering support and friendship for the Israeli people, to meet with government leaders and to help bolster the Israeli economy.”

But other commissioners said that, while they agree with the trip’s intentions, they don’t believe public funds should be used. The City Commission ultimately voted unanimously to fund the trip with private dollars and limit the delegation to just the seven elected officials.

“I want to do anything in my power that I can to be a voice for Israel’s right to defend itself,” Rosen Gonzalez said.

During the discussion, Rosen Gonzalez said members of the private sector were already contacting her to offer to help pay for the trip. Tremont Towing and the owners of Mango’s Tropical Cafe on Ocean Drive have each offered $5,000. Rosen Gonzalez said $30,000 has been pledged so far.

Commissioner David Suarez offered to personally pay any remainder that isn’t covered by private contributions — an unusual proffer from an elected official, but one that City Attorney Ricardo Dopico said he believes is allowed.

It was less clear whether city vendors such as Tremont could contribute. Miami-Dade County’s ethics code prohibits vendors from paying the travel expenses of elected officials.

Dopico told the Miami Herald in a statement that any donations for the trip would need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis “for compliance with applicable State, County and City law” and that each one would need to be accepted by the commission at a future meeting.

The vote came after a tense public comment period amid a heightened police presence at City Hall, in anticipation of pro-Palestinian speakers who have opposed pro-Israel initiatives by the city in recent months.

Mayor Steven Meiner cut off speakers who criticized the proposed delegation to Israel, several of whom accused city officials of supporting “genocide” in Gaza. Meiner, who is Jewish, said the speakers were guilty of antisemitism.

“Do you realize you’re saying absolute hate speech and lies?” Meiner asked one speaker, raising his voice. “I cannot let unfettered lies go.”

Miami Beach officials have backed Israel in various ways since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. The city sent a volunteer unit of firefighters to Israel, provided $115,000 for an ambulance and doubled its investment in Israel bonds to $20 million.

Also Wednesday, commissioners passed an ordinance prohibiting the city from contracting with parties that boycott Israel — mirroring a state law — and agreed to contact Nahariya, a “sister city” in Israel, to offer support.

The details of the delegation to Israel have yet to be hashed out. The resolution approved by the commission calls for city administrators to assist in the planning process, while Rosen Gonzalez said it would be a “solidarity mission” that could take place as soon as October.

“When Miami Beach does something, the entire world watches, and that’s important,” she said.

Commissioner Tanya Katzoff Bhatt said she supports Israel’s “right to exist and defend itself” but wouldn’t participate in the trip, noting that the commission recently approved $15,000 apiece for elected officials to travel to conferences and other events. Rosen Gonzalez proposed that change in July.

“I don’t know if I think we should be allocating any more money for travel,” Katzoff Bhatt said.

Pro-Palestinian activists have held numerous protests in Miami Beach over the past year, prompting city officials to enact new restrictions on protesters .

Suarez blasted pro-Palestinian speakers at Wednesday’s meeting, accusing them of “screaming about human rights while conveniently ignoring women’s rights.”

“If you took your pronouns and your so-called woke nonsense to Gaza, you’d face a much different reality,” he said.

Donna Nevel, a member of the group Jewish Voice for Peace, said during the meeting that the proposed mission to Israel was “shameful.”

“Miami Beach should not go down in history supporting genocide, and the resolutions put forward today would be doing exactly that,” she said.