Brian Mast: Pro-Israel hawk set to lead US House foreign policy panel

Rights advocates decry the nomination of the Florida Republican, who has compared Palestinian civilians to Nazis.

Washington, DC – Palestinian rights advocates in the United States are denouncing the selection of Republican Congressman Brian Mast to lead the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mast, a pro-Israel hawk known for his incendiary remarks about Palestinians, was nominated on Monday by fellow Republicans to be the chair of the influential panel in the incoming Congress, sparking outrage.

On Tuesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) highlighted Mast’s history of anti-Palestinian statements, including his vilification of civilians and his call for destroying infrastructure in Gaza.

“Brian Mast might be the perfect person to serve as a spokesperson for the war criminals of the Israeli government, but he has no business running congressional hearings on sensitive international issues that impact our nation’s security,” CAIR government affairs director Robert McCaw said in a statement.

Mast hit back at CAIR on Wednesday. “I’d be more concerned if they were supporting me. Pace yourselves and buckle up,” he wrote in a social media post.