Ro Khanna says armed settlers held his West Bank group for an hour
Why it matters: The incident adds to Democratic scrutiny of Israeli settler violence and of the $3.8 billion in annual U.S. military aid.
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna said armed Israeli settlers blocked and detained his group for more than an hour during a visit to the occupied West Bank this week. Khanna, a California Democrat, told Reuters the group’s van was surrounded near Khirbet Zanuta by settlers carrying U.S.-made M4 rifles while they were touring an area where Palestinians face frequent attacks. Aide Cameron Kasky said the group sought help from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem before officers who appeared to be police intervened. Israel’s military said troops and police responded to reports of settlers blocking vehicles and dispersed the civilians, allowing the convoy to continue.