ATTORNEY ARRESTED AS PALM BEACH COUNTY MEETING ERUPTS OVER $1B ISRAEL BONDS

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A Palm Beach County commissioner told a veteran he was “embarrassing” his uniform, deputies removed residents from the chambers and a human rights attorney was arrested as a budget hearing erupted over the county’s $1 billion investment in Israel Bonds.

The arrest report says a deputy had to “forcefully move” attorney Noura Erakat from the Governmental Center and accused her of trying to “incite the riot” by yelling toward the crowd. Erakat was charged only with misdemeanor trespassing.

A Palm Beach County commissioner told a veteran he was “embarrassing” his uniform, deputies removed residents from the chambers and a human rights attorney was arrested as a budget hearing erupted over the county’s $1 billion investment in Israel Bonds. (PBCGOV)

The confrontation began when a man wearing an Air Force uniform identified himself as a county resident of more than 50 years who had deployed four times.

“I strongly oppose extending the Israeli Bond investment,” he told commissioners.

County officials responded that the bonds were not part of Tuesday night’s budget discussion and that commissioners were not setting investment policy.

“There is nothing in our budget that lays out anything to do with Israel Bonds,” County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo said. “You are not setting investment policy today whatsoever.”

When the veteran asked when the issue could be discussed, County Mayor Sara Baxter gave him a final warning and ordered deputies to remove him.

As he was escorted from the chambers, Commissioner Joel Flores told him, “You’re embarrassing that uniform, sir.” The remark drew shouting from the crowd, and commissioners recessed the meeting.

Baxter had limited speakers to one minute, restricted comments to county residents and warned that disruptions, including applause, could lead to removal. Other speakers who continued discussing the bonds were also ordered out. At one point, Baxter directed deputies to remove a woman after seeing her clap.

Adam Goldstein, vice president of strategic initiatives at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), said officials generally may limit public comments to the subject of a government meeting.

Goldstein said whether applause justifies removing someone depends on whether it disrupts the proceedings.

“If it’s momentary, transitory applauding, that should be within the rights of the attendees,” Goldstein said. “If the applauding becomes disruptive, that is going to be a judgment call.”

Goldstein reviewed portions of the public meeting but not videos from the recess or Erakat’s arrest. He did not offer an opinion on whether the arrest was lawful.

Near the end of the hearing, Commissioner Maria Sachs returned to the confrontation.

“We need to always respect our veterans,” Sachs said. She then added, “Shame on anyone who wears the uniform of the United States and comes in and does not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.”

During the recess, Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies arrested Erakat, a Palestinian-American human rights attorney and Rutgers University professor.

A probable-cause affidavit obtained by CBS12 News says Baxter and a deputy told Erakat she was no longer authorized to remain inside the Governmental Center. According to the deputy, Erakat said she had a constitutional right to stay and refused multiple warnings to leave.

The deputy wrote that she had to “forcefully move” Erakat while escorting her out and notified a watch commander about the incident. The report also alleges Erakat continued to “incite the riot” by yelling toward the crowd and “amping them up.” Erakat was not charged with rioting, inciting violence, disorderly conduct or resisting arrest.

CBS12 News contacted Erakat for comment.

Videos posted by the Internationalist Law Center show Erakat handcuffed inside an elevator and asserting her right to remain.

Executive Director Lydia Ghuman said the organization brought roughly 100 people to the hearing as part of a campaign challenging the county’s Israel Bond investments.

“We are organizing residents to speak out against these Israel Bond investments,” Ghuman said.

Ghuman said the group believed the bonds were relevant to the hearing because commissioners were discussing surplus funds available for investment.

“We came to give public comment on the budget because they were discussing surplus funds that night,” Ghuman said.

Ghuman said the conflict continued after commissioners called the recess.

“The sheriff came out and said, ‘Anyone who is here to speak about Israel Bonds must leave,’” Ghuman said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), its Florida chapter and the Internationalist Law Center condemned the arrest as an infringement on free speech.

“We stand in full solidarity with her and encourage elected officials nationwide to do the same and to condemn both her unjust arrest and Palm Beach County’s investment in the genocidal Israeli government,” CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said.

Palm Beach County announced in January that an additional $350 million purchase had brought its Israel Bond holdings to $1 billion, making it the world’s largest municipal investor in the bonds. Israel Bonds loan money to the Israeli government in exchange for interest. The holdings represented about 16% of the county’s roughly $6 billion investment portfolio, below the temporary 18% cap previously approved by commissioners.

Then-Clerk and Comptroller Mike Caruso defended the purchases in January as financial—not political—decisions based on safety, liquidity and returns. He said the bonds were projected to earn approximately $23 million more than comparable U.S. Treasury investments. Caruso was later suspended following his arrest in an unrelated criminal case.

Ghuman disputed the county’s financial justification, describing the holdings as overly concentrated and potentially risky. She also argued that the money should support local needs rather than be invested in Israel during the war in Gaza.

Palm Beach County residents previously sued over the investments. A judge dismissed the case in August for lack of standing without ruling on the underlying claims. The plaintiffs are appealing.

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