In brief
Representative Ro Khanna said he and his aides were held for 90 minutes by armed Israeli settlers while visiting the ruins of Khirbet Zanuta in the West Bank. He stated that the Israeli Defense Forces sided with the settlers, prolonging the detention. Khanna's account highlights tensions between U.S. officials and Israeli settlement activities. The incident raises questions about the role of Israeli military forces in civil matters involving foreign diplomats.
Representative Ro Khanna said he was held for 90 minutes by armed Israeli settlers while in the West Bank. The incident occurred on a fact‑finding trip to the ruined village of Khirbet Zanuta.
"They were surrounded by settlers wielding M4 rifles when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) arrived," Khanna wrote on X. He added that the IDF sided with the settlers and continued the detention.
After the settlers blocked the road and the Israeli police were involved, the IDF dispersed the settlers and released Khanna’s group following intervention by police officers. An aide requested assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem during the detention.
Shifting political context: Khanna, a father of two, is reportedly considering a presidential run in 2028. His experience in the West Bank underscores ongoing conflict over Israeli settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law.
Israel presently has about 160 settlements, housing 700,000 Israelis in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, amid the 3.3 million Palestinians living there. The situation illustrates the complex dynamics between U.S. diplomats and Israeli authorities in disputed territories.
