Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him a “war criminal” during a heated exchange on Capitol Hill. The confrontation escalated when a Capitol Hill staffer used an umbrella to obstruct a Fox News cameraman who was filming the encounter. The aide repeatedly opened and closed the umbrella, interfering with the camera shot and eventually making contact with the operator. As Tlaib was questioned by Fox News Channel’s senior congressional correspondent, Chad Pergram, about Netanyahu potentially addressing Congress, the staffer’s actions obstructed the filming.
The spat between Tlaib and the Fox News team occurred as there have been discussions about inviting Netanyahu to speak to members of Congress following an arrest warrant issued for him by the International Criminal Court. Tlaib, a fierce critic of Netanyahu, expressed disdain for the idea of inviting a “war criminal” to Congress, calling it a “sham” and “shameful.” Despite Pergram’s attempts to continue questioning Tlaib, the situation became more contentious as the umbrella-wielding staffer repeatedly interfered with the cameraman’s ability to film the exchange.
Tlaib’s refusal to engage with Pergram’s questions came amid House Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to invite Netanyahu to speak in Congress. Johnson stated that he had presented the invitation to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and had given an ultimatum to either sign onto the drafted invitation or have the House extend the invitation independently. Tlaib’s vocal opposition to Israel’s actions against Hamas has been ongoing, with calls for the arrest of senior Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, for violations of the Genocide Convention.
In a press release earlier in May, Tlaib condemned the Israeli government for its actions in Rafah and criticized the U.S. for providing aid to Israel without conditions on human rights. She accused Netanyahu of engaging in a “genocide of Palestinians” using weapons financed by American tax dollars. Tlaib highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Rafah, with thousands of Palestinians, including children, facing unimaginable suffering due to Israeli military operations. She pointed out the complicity of U.S. lawmakers who supported funding Israel while decrying human rights violations in Rafah.
Tlaib warned her constituents about the complicity of American politicians in enabling atrocities in Rafah and called for an end to U.S. funding of Israel. She accused her colleagues and President Biden of being complicit in the violence against Palestinians, emphasizing that Netanyahu’s grip on power relies on continued conflict. Tlaib stressed the need to halt the flow of weapons to Israel and called for accountability for the violence and displacement of Palestinians in Rafah. The confrontation between Tlaib and the Fox News team, exacerbated by the staffer’s actions with an umbrella, underscored the ongoing tensions surrounding U.S. policy towards Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
