Democratic congressman says he was detained by the Israeli military and settlers in the West Bank
He was detained by settlers and the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank and was only released after phone calls to the American Embassy in Jerusalem, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna said Saturday. The Israel Defense Forces denied detaining any visitors in the incident, which was the latest example of rising political tensions between Israel and its ally the Democratic Party.
A representative for Khanna, a California Democrat who is an outspoken progressive, said the shooting occurred Wednesday in the middle of a three-day tour of the West Bank. While the congressman was visiting a Palestinian village abandoned after settler attacks, armed masked men stopped his group and did not allow them to leave.
The New York Times said one of its photographers witnessed the incident. Khanna’s office said the incident occurred in the town Khirbet Zanuta.
Khanna said he was demoralized when Israeli soldiers arrived and saw them interacting amicably with the settlers and blocking the exit of the congressman’s party. Khanna’s group was not allowed to proceed until the US Embassy and Israeli police were called.
“If this can happen to an American member of Congress, imagine what life is like for Palestinians who have no smartphones, no security, and no national platform,” Khanna, who is exploring a 2028 presidential run, said in a fundraising email sent shortly after his Saturday post about the incident. he said.
The IDF said in a statement that it had received a report that Israeli citizens were blocking foreign nationals and media in Khirbet Zanuta.
In the statement made by the army, it was said, “Upon receipt of the report, Israeli Armed Forces units were dispatched to the scene, quickly dispersed the Israeli civilians and reopened the blocked road.” “Israeli soldiers serving in the area did not take part in closing the road.”
US Democratic politicians have increased their criticism of Israel following the sharp turn towards Israel by their party’s voters. war in Gaza to start. Last week, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, whose father was born in Jerusalem and fought in Israel’s war of independence. He made a striking speech last week In Tel Aviv, he said Israel had become a “regional pariah.” Emanuel is also a potential White House contender.
Inside a recent survey About 58% of Democrats said the United States is “too supportive” of the Israelis, according to the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Also on Saturday, the Israeli army said it had detained four suspects who attacked foreign journalists traveling to Sinjil, another West Bank community. According to the army’s statement, the attackers blocked the journalists’ vehicle, damaging it, and were armed with sticks and knives.
CNN reported that a team of journalists was among the journalists attacked. The network said the journalists were there to mark the one-year anniversary of the murder. A Palestinian American man He was beaten to death by Israeli settlers.
The West Bank has seen an increase in settlement construction and settler violence against Palestinians in the past few years. Israeli officials condemned the serious violence committed by settlers, but define events as exceptionsand attackers are rarely punished.
The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements illegal. The Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under heavy criticism from Palestinians and human rights groups for accelerating the expansion of settlements that they say are aimed at preventing the establishment of a future Palestinian state.
Israel views the West Bank as disputed territory and says its final status is subject to negotiations. Key Cabinet ministers pressed for formal annexation of the territory.
