Bondi, Wasserman Schultz vow to protect Jewish community at pro-Israel summit

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz spoke about their commitments to the Jewish community and their respective parties’ plans to combat antisemitism and strengthen ties with Israel at an Israeli-American summit attended by thousands on Friday afternoon.

Speaking in front of a packed ballroom at a Hollywood beach resort, Bondi touted the Trump administration’s crackdown on antisemitic and anti-Israel acts, while Wasserman Schultz reassured attendees that the Democratic Party remains largely pro-Israel despite some far-left dissenters.

The Florida-bred elected officials spoke at the Israeli-American Council National Summit, touted as the largest pro-Israel Jewish conference of the year, during a segment about “Inspirational Role Models.” They were followed by a variety of speakers, including Israeli ambassadors, a former Hamas hostage, Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner and TV personality Siggy Flicker.

Bondi began her address by recounting the night two Israeli Embassy staff members were gunned down near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., last year.

Bondi, who is a former prosecutor and Attorney General of Florida, told the audience that her office is seeking the death penalty against the gunman, Elias Rodriguez.

“Sarah and Yaron were shot, murdered because they were Jewish,” Bondi said. “It was horrible. Horrible. We will not tolerate that in our country any longer.”

Bondi said that antisemitism has gone “unchecked” in the United States for too long, citing examples of antisemitic hate crimes like the recent arson attack at a historic synagogue in Mississippi.

“Too many Jewish Americans have been forced to live in fear. Under President Trump’s leadership, this Department of Justice is dedicated to reversing this unacceptable trend,” she said.

Bondi pointed to the Justice Department’s million-dollar settlements against public universities over anti-Israel protests on campuses and Trump’s role in helping return the hostages of the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel as examples of the administration’s commitment to combatting antisemitism.

She said the rising levels of anti-Jewish hate in America are a result of the “inaction” of institutions and leaders who have chosen to “look the other way.”

To close out her speech, Bondi told a story about how she personally helped get a student expelled from Florida State University for allegedly verbally attacking another student wearing an Israeli Defense Forces shirt on campus.

“It’s not a crime of great violence, but in my opinion, it’s a crime of great significance,” she said.

Later in the summit, as Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat from Weston, took the stage, her presence was met with a mixture of cheers and boos from the audience.

“I am Florida’s first Jewish Congresswoman,” she said, adding that the first bill that she passed 21 years ago created the National Jewish American Heritage month. “I am a Zionist. I am a proud Jewish mother and I represent a significant Jewish community as well as an Israeli-American community proudly.”

The moderator, Aviva Klompas, pointed out that many in the room may be concerned about the Democratic Party’s support for Israel amid the party’s internal division over issues like the war in Gaza.

“It is my job today and going forward to help reassure people who have angst about the Democratic Party.. that the Congress of the United States remains an overwhelmingly pro-Israel governmental institution,” she said.

Wasserman Schultz mentioned that even amid the election of pro-Palestinian champions like New York City’s newly elected mayor Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party has also continued to elect many pro-Israel candidates, like Mark Levine, who was elected Comptroller of New York City, and the New York City Council’s first Jewish speaker, Julie Menin.

“We have a core group of organized members that work inside to educate new members as they’re coming in,” she said, adding that she will continue to lead women’s trips to Israel within the Democratic Party.

The congresswoman closed by saying that it is the larger responsibility of pro-Israel people to ensure the younger generation continues to get educated on issues like the Holocaust.

This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and donors in South Florida’s Jewish and Muslim communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza and the Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.