WASHINGTON — Staff members of far-left Rep. Rashida Tlaib held up umbrellas Thursday despite clear skies to shield members of her “Squad” from questions about a possible speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Congress.
The anti-Semitic Rep. (D-Mich.) and her aides were approached outside the Capitol by Fox News producer Chad Pergram, who asked them about House Speaker Mike Johnson’s plans to invite an Israeli leader to address lawmakers.
“What if Prime Minister Netanyahu comes to speak?” Pelgram began, as a tall aide to a Palestinian-American congressman blocked his way with a large blue and white umbrella.
As he walked around the umbrella, Pergram asked, “Ms. Tlaib, what happens if Mr. Netanyahu comes to speak? Would the speaker be wrong to extend this request?”
When Tlaib did not immediately respond, Pergram continued: “What would you think if Democratic leaders agreed to that request? Would you attend? Would you protest in some way?”
A staff member then moved an umbrella to block Fox’s camera, and the congressman replied, “I don’t understand. It’s hypocritical and shameful to invite a war criminal to Congress.”
“You hit me with an umbrella,” one of the TV crew members can be heard telling an aide to Tlaib.
“I didn’t hit you with the umbrella,” the man replied.
Umbrellas have been used to hide cameras at many recent protests, including anti-Israel demonstrations on university campuses.
Senator Johnson (R-Louisiana) has not yet formally invited Netanyahu to address Congress, but he is likely to do so as leading Democrats in Washington have been critical of the Israeli prime minister’s handling of the Gaza invasion.
President Biden this month suspended shipments of 2,000- and 500-pound bombs to Israel to thwart Netanyahu’s attacks on the city of Rafah, Hamas’ last remaining stronghold, due to concerns about the fate of more than 1 million Palestinians believed to live in the area.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), like Biden, was a strong supporter of Israel in the aftermath of the war that erupted on Oct. 7 when Hamas terrorists killed about 1,200 people, but he has become increasingly critical of Prime Minister Netanyahu, even calling for new elections in Israel in March.
Johnson’s possible invitation comes amid a pending request filed on Monday by the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant on suspicion of war crimes.
