A Republican candidate for Florida governor is facing intense backlash after mocking the Western Wall in Jerusalem during a speech at the University of Central Florida. James Fishback said that if elected, he would not visit Israel and would rather travel elsewhere than “kiss a stupid wall.” The comment quickly spread online, triggering outrage from Jewish leaders and voters across the state.
For those unfamiliar, the Western Wall is the holiest prayer site in Judaism. It is the last remaining structure connected to the ancient Jewish Temple, destroyed nearly 2,000 years ago. Millions of Jews visit it to pray, celebrate bar mitzvahs, and mark life’s most emotional moments. It is not a political monument. It is a symbol of Jewish survival, faith, and identity. Reducing it to “just a wall” is widely seen as dismissive and deeply offensive.
The controversy also comes amid a series of anti Israel statements from Fishback in recent months, including pledges to withdraw Florida investments from Israeli bonds and attacks on pro Israel politicians within his own party. In a state with one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States, this could shift from viral moment to major campaign issue very quickly.
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