Detained by settlers, US Democrat Ro Khanna now faces pro-Israel attacks | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Congressman Detained by Israeli Settlers Amid Rising Tensions
Rights advocates are voicing strong objections following the detention of U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna by armed Israeli settlers during his visit to the occupied West Bank. In response, Israeli officials have launched a campaign to discredit the California Democrat.
Israeli leaders have ruled out any apologies for the incident or accountability for the settlers involved. Instead, they have shifted their focus to accusations against Khanna regarding his trip coordination.
Khanna reported that his van was halted for approximately 20 minutes on Wednesday by armed settlers, who were subsequently joined by Israeli soldiers. He described the encounter as lasting over an hour, culminating only after he contacted the U.S. embassy in Israel.
Michael Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., suggested Khanna was responsible for the situation, stating that he did not coordinate his travel with Israeli authorities. “He decided to coordinate his trip not with Israel, but with Palestinian activists and with J Street,” Leiter told CBS News.
Leiter further alleged, without substantiation, that Khanna delayed releasing a video of the incident to divert attention from his support for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who suspended his campaign amid sexual misconduct allegations.
In a separate statement, Khanna asserted that he had informed Israeli officials of his travel plans and demanded that those responsible for halting his van be arrested.
The Israeli military has provided a different account, asserting that it “dispersed” civilians obstructing the road. However, Khanna dismissed this characterization during an NBC News interview. “The [Israeli military] is lying,” he stated, asserting that the settlers displayed aggression, brandishing rifles and mocking the occupants of his vehicle.
Khanna emphasized the seriousness of the situation, questioning the treatment of American citizens in such a context. Pro-Israel politicians, including Republican Congressman Greg Murphy, have characterized Khanna’s actions as a publicity stunt, prompting criticism given Murphy’s own prior visit to Israel as part of a congressional delegation.
In his response, Khanna invited Murphy to join efforts advocating for accountability for those who mistreat U.S. citizens in these scenarios.
Amid the controversy, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson defended Khanna, criticizing U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee for his silence regarding the incident. He described the situation as “humiliating to America.”
While some U.S. pro-Israel figures support Khanna’s stance, others, like former U.S. envoy to Israel David Friedman, accused him of seeking attention. Friedman suggested, again without evidence, that Khanna had intentionally provoked the incident by entering a restricted area.
The conflict raises broader questions about the legality of Israel’s military presence and settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, which the International Court of Justice ruled as unlawful in 2024. Israeli settlers frequently clash with Palestinian communities, leading to attacks on individuals, including American citizens.
Despite these documented incidents of violence, Israel was incorporated into the U.S. visa waiver program in 2023, allowing for seamless travel to the U.S. This relationship persists alongside significant U.S. military aid, amounting to over $21 billion in recent years.
