Editor’s note: Follow government reporter Katie Brandenburg weekly as she tracks U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a Bowling Green Republican, possibly on his way to a run for the White House.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., waded into foreign relations this week, making his opinions known about a terrorist attack in France and the continued conflict between Israel and Palestinians.

The senator has often been painted as an isolationist but seems to be working to step away from that characterization as he contemplates a run for president.

In an interview Thursday with Sean Hannity, Paul weighed in on an attack Wednesday on the French publication Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead.

The Associated Press reported Friday that the two brothers responsible for the attack and an associate were killed, along with at least four people who had been held as hostages. Sixteen other hostages were freed Friday – one from a printing plant and another 15 from a grocery.

On Thursday, Paul questioned immigration policy in France, Bloomberg News reported.

“Maybe every Muslim immigrant that wishes to come to France shouldn’t have an open door,” he reportedly said.

Paul also said Muslims need to be involved in the struggle against groups such as the Islamic State, Bloomberg reported.

“There need to be civilized members of Islam who do step forward,” Paul reportedly said. “I want to see every one of them on the front lines.”

During the interview, Paul also criticized Western publications that decided not to publish Charlie Hebdo cartoons criticized as being anti-Islam, Bloomberg reported.

“I haven’t seen any Christians or Jews dragging Muslims through the streets, but I have seen the opposite,” he reportedly said.

Paul also this week filed a bill that would halt foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority until it withdraws its request to join the International Criminal Court.

A Politico report said joining the court could allow Palestinians to file lawsuits against Israel for alleged war crimes on Palestinian land. 

Under current law, the United States is prohibited from assisting the Palestinian Authority if it seeks ICC claims against Israel, according to a news release from Paul’s office.

“It is up to the new Republican-led Congress to move on its own so that the president does not once again circumvent clear funding restrictions,” Paul said in a news release.

“We are currently sending roughly $400 million of U.S. taxpayer dollars to the Palestinian Authority. Certainly groups that threaten Israel cannot be allies of the U.S. I will continue to do everything in my power to make sure this president and this Congress stop treating Israel’s enemies as American allies.”

— Follow government beat writer Katie Brandenburg on Twitter at twitter.com/BGDNgovtbeat