Republican Tennessee state Sen. Paul Rose snapped at an activist journalist on Tuesday after being pressed about a controversial bill he sponsored that would support Israel’s right to annex the West Bank, territory widely recognized as Palestinian land that has been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967.
The bill, known as the “Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act,” would mandate all Tennessee state agencies cease referring to the territory as the “West Bank,” and instead, refer to the territory as “Judea and Samaria,” a term used by some Israeli officials to assert its control over the territory. The bill would also recognize “Israel’s sovereignty in these areas” as being “consistent with international law.”
Rose was asked about the bill by former Democratic congressional candidate-turned progressive activist journalist Justin Kanew, who asked the GOP lawmaker “who gave” him “the West Bank bill?”
“You’re doing Israel’s bidding as they push us into war,” Kanew could be heard saying in a video of the encounter he shared on social media. “I say this as a Jew with family in Israel, Sen. Rose. Why are you doing Israel’s bidding?”
Rose then turned to Kanew to issue him a violent threat.
“You know, if I was at home, I’d bust your face right now!” Rose said.
Rose later said he would not actually assault Kanew, adding that his comment was conditional on “if we were home.” Kanew, the founder of the progressive news outlet The Tennessee Holler, later ridiculed Rose for getting “triggered” and having “fantasized about punching” him.
“Senator, who gave you the West Bank bill?” ROSE: “If I was at home I’d bust your face right now.”
A triggered @PaulRoseTN (R) fantasized about punching @Kanew for asking about his bill forcing TN to call the West Bank “Judea & Samaria” & if he’s concerned
pushed us to war pic.twitter.com/ZynFr8Qytj — The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) March 25, 2026
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