Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) pounced on a reporter in Israel who asked about Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), even demanding the journalist’s removal from the press conference. (Watch the video below.)
“Get this guy out of here!” Graham said.
Daniel Cohen, a Jerusalem correspondent for Newsmax, gave a lengthy preamble to thank the bipartisan panel for visiting Israel and then asked the Democrats to respond to Tlaib’s tweet blaming the country for the bombing of a hospital in Gaza last week.
Evidence has emerged that the destruction was “most likely caused” by the misfire of a Palestinian rocket, The Associated Press reported, but nothing is definite.
“Ah, stop, no, stop!” Graham said as Cohen continued his query.
Cohen insisted it was a “fair question,” and Graham said the senators were in Israel together not to “talk about the problems at home.”
“I’ve got my own view of what to say. You’re not going to screw this up,” said Graham, clearly trying to cultivate a united vibe.
“I’m not trying to screw it up,” Cohen replied.
“Get this guy out of here!” Graham sniped.
The two continued to exchange words.
“I don’t believe what the Squad has to say at all,” Graham continued. “But I came here with Democrats and Republicans to let everybody in the world know, don’t judge every Democrat by the Squad, and don’t judge every Republican by some of the things you hear.”
The senator went on to sum up the need for aid to Israel and Ukraine in their wars.
He then seemed to pull back from his initial request for the reporter’s expulsion.
“And I’m sorry, my friend,” Graham said. “I probably shouldn’t have said it, but my nerves are raw right now.”
Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in the House, has been critical of Israel and the Biden administration’s policies in the war and has called for a cease-fire along with other House progressives known as the “Squad.”
Her tweet about the hospital explosion has remained up but with a reader note about contradicting evidence.
Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza ahead of a possible ground attack has pushed the death toll to more than 5,000 after Hamas militants killed and abducted scores of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.
Graham has previously posted on X, formerly Twitter, that members of the Squad “should be ashamed of yourselves for refusing to unequivocally stand with our closest ally.”