TURMUS AYYA, West Bank — Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, was detained by Israeli settlers armed with U.S.-made rifles during a visit to the West Bank this week. Khanna described the incident as part of his effort to highlight the human toll of Israeli occupation as he considers a potential presidential run in 2028.
Key Details
On Wednesday, Khanna's group was surrounded by settlers wielding M4 rifles while touring a Palestinian village that had been damaged by settler violence. He stated,
We were at a village that Israeli settlers had destroyed, they had destroyed the school, they had destroyed that village, and we were just looking at it.
According to Khanna, the settlers blocked their van and contacted the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), who he claimed sided with the settlers rather than the Americans.
An aide to Khanna, Cameron Kasky, reported that they were held for over an hour and sought assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. The Israeli military later confirmed that troops and police intervened after receiving reports of settlers blocking vehicles. They stated that the troops dispersed the settlers to allow the vehicles to continue.
Background
This incident marks Khanna as the second Democrat considering a White House bid to visit the region this week. Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Barack Obama, also addressed Israeli policies toward Palestinians, suggesting they are undermining U.S. support for Israel.
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Limited direct market relevance; the development matters more for regional politics than for traded assets. Investors will watch for further statements from U.S. officials regarding their stance on Israeli-Palestinian relations.