PALM BEACH COUNTY  (VINnews) – In what critics are denouncing as an antisemitic attack on support for the Jewish state, Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback on Monday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Mike Caruso, demanding divestment from $1 billion in Israel bonds or face removal from office.

Fishback, who has a history of harsh criticism of Israel including labeling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an “immoral war criminal” and accusing Israel of “genocide” in Gaza, targeted Caruso during a public event in Palm Beach County.

“Mike Caruso, I am here in Palm Beach County to deliver you one final and clear warning,” Fishback declared. “You have 48 hours to divest the billion dollars you gave to Netanyahu, or I will use Article 4, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution to remove you for malfeasance from office.”

The remarks come after Caruso announced in early January that Palm Beach County had purchased an additional $350.5 million in Israel bonds, bringing its total holdings to $1 billion and positioning the county as the world’s largest holder of such instruments. Caruso has defended the investment on purely financial grounds, projecting $47.2 million in interest income over the next three years while stressing safety, liquidity and strong returns for taxpayers.

Critics, including Jewish community leaders and pro-Israel advocates, condemned Fishback’s language and tactics as crossing into antisemitism by singling out Israel for political pressure, invoking inflammatory references to Netanyahu personally, and threatening an elected official for supporting a legitimate investment vehicle that aids the Jewish state. Fishback has previously pledged, if elected governor, to force statewide divestment from Israel bonds and redirect funds elsewhere, a move opponents say unfairly discriminates against the world’s only Jewish nation.

Fishback’s broader platform includes rejecting donations from pro-Israel groups like AIPAC and shifting from prior support for Israel to sharp condemnation of its defensive actions following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.

Legal experts note that Article IV, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution grants the governor authority to suspend certain officials for malfeasance, with Senate confirmation possible for removal — not a power directly wielded by a gubernatorial candidate through public threats. No immediate response from Caruso’s office was available Tuesday evening.

The Israel bonds investment has drawn both praise for its performance and backlash from anti-Israel activists. Supporters emphasize that the bonds are standard investment tools, not foreign aid, and have historically provided competitive yields.

Fishback’s aggressive rhetoric has intensified concerns within Florida’s large Jewish community about rising antisemitism masked as political discourse in the 2026 Republican primary for governor.

VINnews will continue to monitor reactions and developments in this story.