New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker is under fire for posing for a photo with anti-Israel activists – and his spokesman’s excuse isn’t helping.

A grinning Booker held up a sign critical of Israel’s security wall at the Netroots Nation Conference in New Orleans Friday, flanked by members of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights.

“From Palestine to Mexico, All the Walls Have Got to Go,” the sign read.

But it wasn’t Booker’s fault, spokesman Jeff Giertz insisted.

“He didn’t have time to read the sign,” Giertz told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “From his cursory glance he thought it was talking about Mexico and didn’t realize it had anything to do with Israel.”

Giertz did not explain how Booker missed the pro-Palestine message on the T-shirt worn by the woman he is seen embracing in the photo.

Conservative actor James Woods was one of the critics who pounced on Booker’s gaffe.

“Well then, @CoryBooker, be sure to unlock your doors tonight,” Woods tweeted. “Walk it like you talk it.”