Florida Congressman Randy Fine warned Britain on Monday that British companies could be shut out of business with state and local governments in Florida if they comply with expected UK measures targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. The warning came as Britain prepared additional economic steps over Israeli settlement activity, including possible restrictions on trade and companies connected to construction.

“As the British government considers forcing British companies to boycott portions of Israel, it should be aware that a Florida law that I passed as a member of the Legislature would ban any British company forced to comply from doing business with any state or local government in Florida,” Fine wrote on social media.

He said the ramifications could extend beyond government contracts. The legislation, Fine wrote, “would also end any British business participating in that boycott from doing any business in Florida if it needed any official interaction with state or local government to operate (permits, tax collection).”

Fine argued that Britain’s economic relationship with Florida means such a confrontation could carry a significant financial price. “Florida is one of Britain’s largest trading partners. They should understand that their vanity project in support of Muslim terror could cost them billions of dollars,” he wrote.

Fine pointed to Airbnb’s 2019 dispute over listings in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria as evidence that Florida’s anti-boycott policy could have considerable leverage. “And for those who doubt the power of this policy,” continued Fine, “it was this same law that broke Airbnb’s misguided effort to boycott portions of Israel in 2019. They realized that this law would have bankrupted their company.”

“Florida has made it clear. Any company – or nation – that boycotts Israel is boycotted by Florida,” he concluded.

Fine’s comments followed reports that Britain was preparing new economic measures directed at Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. The British government has already strengthened its guidance to advise UK companies against economic and financial activity in Israeli settlements, and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has indicated that a broader package of measures is forthcoming.

According to reports on the planned measures, Britain has been considering sanctions or restrictions involving companies that participate in construction in the communities, which would represent an expansion beyond earlier British measures that largely focused on individuals and entities accused of involvement in settlement activity or violence.

The dispute has intensified following Israeli plans for additional construction in the E1 corridor between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim. Britain and a group of other countries have publicly urged Israel to abandon the E1 plans, arguing that development there would undermine prospects for a two-state solution.

Miliband has called on Israel to reverse course, describing the project as “an unacceptable and destructive act” and maintaining that development in E1 would damage the prospects for a future Palestinian state.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar warned last week that Jerusalem would retaliate if Britain moved ahead with punitive measures.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday called for Israel to take action even before the anticipated British announcement, including expelling Britain’s ambassador.

“The British ambassador should be expelled this evening. We will not be a doormat for an antisemitic government in a country that has been conquered by radical Islam and is trying to save itself from economic and social decline by attacking Jews and the State of Israel. The British Mandate in the Land of Israel is over,” Smotrich said.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir separately proposed that Israel retaliate by recognizing Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands, whose sovereignty has long been disputed by Argentina and Britain.

“The time has come for the State of Israel to publicly recognize the Falkland Islands as occupied Argentine territory, which the British are violently stealing from the Argentine people. The British are not only occupying the territory, but are also conducting oil drilling there and stealing money from the Argentine people,” he said.

“I call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize Argentina’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and impose sanctions on Great Britain for as long as the occupation continues,” added Ben Gvir.

{Matzav.com}