Tennessee State Sen. Paul Rose (R) lashed out at a progressive journalist who confronted him Tuesday over a bill that would change how the state describes the West Bank.
“Who gave you that bill? Senator Rose, who gave you that bill about the West Bank? Who gave it to you?” asked Justin Kanew, founder of progressive news outlet Tennessee Holler. “Are you worried at all about Israel’s influence on our government as they push us to war? You know they pushed us into a war, Senator Rose, and here you are doing their bidding.”
Tennessee House Bill 1446, dubbed the Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act, passed the state House chamber earlier this month. It would prohibit state agencies from using the term “West Bank,” which the United Nations recognized as Palestinian territory. The International Court of Justice says Israel has illegally occupied the territory.
“I say this as a Jew with family in Israel, Senator Rose. Why are you doing Israel’s bidding as they push us into war?” Kanew pressed.
Then Rose fired back.
