WATCH: Former GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Forcibly Removed From County Commissioners Meeting After Criticizing Expanded Investment In Israeli Bonds

This morning, police removed me from the Miami-Dade County Commission meeting for criticizing Israel. pic.twitter.com/Nw57iAHDX6

— James Fishback (@j_fishback) September 1, 2026

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The confrontation comes after the county voted earlier this summer to raise its investment cap with Israel from 3% to 5% of its portfolio — a move that allows it invest upwards of about $400 million to $450 million. The change has drawn opposition from figures like Fishback critical of using public funds to invest in Israel as the war in Gaza continues to fuel political divisions in the U.S. It has also provided Fishback a platform to continue his opposition to U.S.-Israel ties.

“What this is about, very simply, is whom do you serve?” Fishback said.

Fishback, a Republican, has garnered national attention for his views on race and has developed a reputation for confrontational public appearances.

Fishback was among the 11 GOP candidates seeking to replace outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis. He garnered 10.4% of the vote in the Aug. 18 primary but drew national attention for a series of inflammatory on-camera moments.

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Mics cut, speakers ejected after #MiamiDade Commission raises Israeli bond cap

Reporting by @JesseScheckner#FlaPolhttps://t.co/hKkOJRJG8g

— Florida Politics (@Fla_Pol) September 1, 2026

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The disorder followed a unanimous vote the Commission took to set the meeting’s agenda, which came shortly after the panel provided attendees time to speak on any agenda item they wanted.

No one spoke then against the measure (11A2), which Commissioner René García sponsored. After it passed without discussion, however, roughly a dozen people signed up to speak on another item requiring a public hearing, then tried using their time at the podium to decry 11A2.

A couple succeeded Tuesday in using the full one minute allotted to them. Jared Simon, who identified himself as Jewish, called the decision to raise the cap in Israeli bonds from 3% to 5% of the county’s investment portfolio “extremely controversial,” citing what he described as “700 comments” on a Monday Miami Herald report about the proposal (the Herald’s page shows eight comments total).

He also incorrectly said the Commission “didn’t even allow public comments on it before voting.”

Simon’s comments elicited applause from the audience and a warning from Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, who both admonished the crowd not to applaud — hand-waving and giving a thumbs-down are allowed, but clapping is not — and to avoid speaking about already-decided items.

“If you start your commentary regarding the Israeli bonds item that already passed,” she said, “you will not be permitted to speak.”

Cohen Higgins’ warning went unheeded, with some speakers calling the vote “reprehensible” and “a disgrace” and others denouncing what they characterized as Israeli “apartheid” and “genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza.

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