Florida governor Ron DeSantis plans to meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu during Israel trip

DeSantis is also travelling to Japan, South Korea and Britain. The visit to Israel coincides with protests over Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plans

The expected 2024 US presidential candidate met Netanyahu during a visit to Jerusalem in 2019, calling Florida ‘the most pro-Israel state in the nation’

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel this week. Photo: The Salt Lake Tribune via AP

Published: 1:28am, 24 Apr 2023

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to meet Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis when the expected 2024 presidential candidate visits Israel this week, Netanyahu said on CBS News’ Face the Nation on Sunday.

DeSantis is also travelling to Japan, South Korea and Britain. The visit to Israel coincides with protests over Netanyahu’s plans to tighten controls on the country’s Supreme Court.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Pool via Reuters

Netanyahu, asked by CBS whether he would meet DeSantis, replied: “Of course, I’ll meet with everyone. Why not? I’ll meet with Republican governors and Democratic governors.”

DeSantis’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Former US president Donald Trump, a Republican who began his re-election campaign in November 2022, last week won endorsements of several Republican lawmakers in Florida. The endorsements are a blow to DeSantis, who has not yet declared his candidacy.

DeSantis met Netanyahu during a visit to Jerusalem in 2019, calling Florida “the most pro-Israel state in the nation.”