Detained by settlers, US Democrat Ro Khanna now faces pro-Israel attacks
US Congressman Ro Khanna was detained by armed Israeli settlers in the West Bank, and now faces political attacks from Israel and its allies.
US Representative Ro Khanna said that on Wednesday, while traveling to a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, armed Israeli settlers stopped his van for 20 minutes, and were later joined by Israeli soldiers who continued to block the road. The ordeal lasted over an hour and was only resolved after Khanna contacted the US embassy in Israel.
Israeli officials have ruled out apologizing to Khanna or holding the settlers accountable. Instead, several have gone on the offensive. Israel's ambassador to the US, Michael Leiter, accused Khanna of failing to coordinate his trip with the Israeli government, claiming he coordinated with Palestinian activists and J Street instead. Leiter also suggested without evidence that Khanna delayed releasing a video of the incident to distract from his support for Senator Graham Platner, who dropped out of a Senate race amid sexual misconduct allegations.
Khanna rejected these claims, insisting he informed Israel of his travel and called for the arrest of the settlers. He accused the Israeli military of lying, saying they participated in blocking the road and detaining him. "How dare they mistreat people with an American passport that way?" Khanna asked.
Pro-Israel politicians, including Republican Congressman Greg Murphy, claimed Khanna provoked his own detention for publicity. Khanna responded by urging Murphy to be on "Team America" and call for consequences for anyone who mistreats US citizens. Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson defended Khanna, criticizing the US ambassador to Israel for remaining silent.
The incident comes amid a broader context of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, often under Israeli military protection. One year ago, Israeli settlers beat 20-year-old US citizen Sayfollah Musallet to death, and three weeks later, another American, father of five Khamis Ayyad, was killed in a settler attack. No charges have been filed in either case. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful.
