Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” on Thursday, in fiery remarks that became even more controversial when a Capitol Hill staffer used an umbrella to obstruct a Fox News cameraman who was filming the exchange.
The unidentified aide is seen in the video of the encounter opening and closing his umbrella several times. The action interferes with the camera’s shot, and at one point the umbrella appears to come into contact with the operator, who witnesses said was hit in the face and upper body.
The interaction occurred as Chad Pergram, Fox News Channel’s senior congressional correspondent, asked Tlaib about the possibility of Netanyahu being invited to address members of Congress. Prospects for such an invitation have gained momentum following the International Criminal Court’s recent decision to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, who oversaw Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. The ICC’s decision sparked bipartisan anger, although Tlaib has consistently criticized Netanyahu.
“What will happen if Netanyahu comes to speak?” Pergram asks Tlaib in the video as the staffer opens the umbrella, obstructing the camera’s view and forcing Pergram to move.
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The incident was caught on video and occurred as Chad Pergram, Fox News Channel’s senior congressional correspondent, was asking Tlaib about the prospects of Netanyahu speaking to members of Congress. (Fox News)
“Ms. Tlaib, what will happen if Netanyahu comes to speak? Is it a mistake for the speaker to prolong this request?” Pergram continues.
The staffer is then seen closing the umbrella as Pergram asks Tlaib, “Would you like to attend?” Would you like to protest in any form?
Tlaib responds, lambasting Netanyahu and those who would consider inviting her to speak to Congress.
“I don’t know, inviting a war criminal to Congress is a sham,” Tlaib said. “It is shameful.”
As she responds, the employee steps between the cameraman and Pergram, who is still questioning Tlaib, and opens the umbrella again. The camera then pans wildly as the umbrella comes into contact with the operator.
“He hit me with an umbrella,” the cameraman says in the video.
“I didn’t hit you with an umbrella,” the employee replies.
“We have it on video, guys. He hit him with an umbrella,” Pergram told Tlaib and her aide. “It’s an assault.”
Tlaib and her aide continue on their way, past Capitol Police officers and up the stairs to the Capitol.
Tlaib’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
His refusal to answer Pergram’s questions comes after the House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.drafted an invitation for Netanyahu to deliver a speech to Congress.
Johnson told reporters Thursday that he gave the Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.an ultimatum: either you sign the invitation drawn up, or the Chamber will issue the invitation itself.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, left, said he had issued an ultimatum to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., right, regarding Netanyahu’s likely speech to Congress: Either he signed the drafted invitation, or the House would extend the invitation on its own. (Getty Images)
“My office told Senator Schumer’s office yesterday that he had to sign the joint letter, and if not, we were going to invite Netanyahu right to the House, and I will send individual invitations to the senators,” Johnson said.
A straight-talker criticism of Israel’s war Along with Hamas, Tlaib this month called for the arrest of Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials for what she called violations of the genocide convention under international law.
In a May 7 press release, Tlaib denounced the government of Israel for its ground operation in Rafah and castigated continued US aid to the Jewish state.
“It is no coincidence that immediately after our government sent the Israeli apartheid regime more than $14 billion without any human rights conditions, Netanyahu began a ground invasion of Rafah to continue the genocide of the Palestinians – with munitions and bombs paid for by our taxes,” she said at the time. “More than 1.5 million Palestinian civilians, including more than 600,000 children, are stuck in Rafah, living in makeshift tents, without food, clean water, sanitation, medicine or any form of shelter .”
Tlaib accused Israeli forces of killing more than 35,000 Palestinians and displacing families in Rafah, exposing them to more “unimaginable human suffering.”
She also warned her constituents in the statement that many of her colleagues would express concern over “crimes against humanity” in Rafah, even though those same colleagues voted to empower Netanyahu to do so.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun/Pool/File)
“Make no mistake, they gave consent to these atrocities and our country is an active participant in the genocide,” Tlaib said. “For months, Netanyahu has made clear his intention to invade Rafah, but the majority of my colleagues and President Biden sent more weapons to enable the massacre. »
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She said Netanyahu would only stay in power as long as the fighting continued, adding that the United States must stop funding Israel.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Capitol Police for comment.
Greg Wehner of Fox News contributed to this report.
