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.
“You know, if I was at home, I’d bust your face right now, but I’m not,” the Republican said, later clarifying that he’s not threatening him.
Rose did not immediately respond to JS when asked for further comment on the exchange. He’s received backlash online.
“More threats of political violence from the right,” Zeteo Editor-in-Chief Mehdi Hasan wrote on X.
“Another bully?” former tennis star Martina Navratilova said.
Rose can be seen walking away from Kanew after the confrontation, with Kanew continuing to ask if Rose is “concerned at all that you’re doing Israel’s bidding as they push us into war.”
“There are Republicans who have issue with this. It’s not just Democrats. This isn’t a partisan issue. Why is it our business to be changing the name of something?” Kanew asked.
