TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Rick Scott visited Israel Monday and attended ceremonies for the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
Scott is expected to return to Tallahassee on Tuesday. John Tupps, a spokesman for Scott, said that Scott's chief of staff is accompanying the Republican governor on the visit.
Scott backed the decision of President Donald Trump to shift the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The move has ignited Palestinian protests and raised fears of a further outbreak of violence.
Trump's daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will preside over the embassy ceremony on Monday.
Scott has previously made two official trips to Israel, including a trade mission last December.
His trip is being paid by the state.
Today, I visited the Western Wall as our country moves the U.S. Embassy to its rightful home in Israel’s capital city, Jerusalem. FL stands with Israel today and for generations to come. pic.twitter.com/Li8Dg9JlIx
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) May 14, 2018
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, did not attend the event, but sent out a statement supporting the move.
"I am pleased that, after America’s announcement to move our embassy, countries like Guatemala and then most recently Paraguay, announced their intention to move their embassies as well," Rubio wrote. "I hope more countries will choose to do the right thing and recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."