NPR’s Ailsa Chang speaks with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., about his current journey to the occupied West Financial institution and short-term detention by Israeli settlers and troopers.
Transcript
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, says he was detained for multiple hour by armed Israeli settlers after which by Israeli troopers, all throughout a go to to the occupied West Financial institution final week. Khanna says he was solely allowed to proceed continuing after contacting the U.S. Embassy in Israel. U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, later referred to as Khanna’s journey a, quote, “stunt.” And he stated that Khanna went to a navy managed space with out prior clearance. Israeli officers have additionally countered Khanna’s model of this complete story. So we invited Khanna to attempt to clear issues up. Welcome again to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, Congressman.
RO KHANNA: Thanks for having me.
CHANG: OK. So that you name this go to to the occupied West Financial institution – in your individual phrases – a, quote, “Palestinian-led journey.” Why was occurring a particularly Palestinian-led journey vital to you?
KHANNA: I have been to Israel thrice earlier than. I’ve met with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Prime Minister Bennett, many Israeli officers. And I had been to Ramallah, the place I met with President Abbas. However I wished to see firsthand the occupation, the circumstances on the bottom within the occupied West Financial institution. And it was vital to get the voices of Palestinians. And that is why I went on a visit to the West Financial institution that was Palestinian-led. Now, we knowledgeable the American Embassy. We knowledgeable the Israeli Embassy.
CHANG: Oh. Effectively, there’s some pushback on that, really. Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. says you refused Israel’s provide to coordinate your go to there, and that’s the reason the Israeli navy did not instantly permit you passage. What’s your response to that?
KHANNA: Effectively, they’re right that I did not permit for the coordination, which means that Israel wished me to come back meet with Israeli authorities officers and meet with Israeli officers. I stated, no. This can be a Palestinian-led journey to the West Financial institution, however they knew I used to be there. They helped escort me…
CHANG: They have been absolutely conscious…
KHANNA: Yeah.
CHANG: …In your thoughts.
KHANNA: They helped escort me via the airport. I imply, they knew I used to be a member of Congress. They bought me via in a short time – via the airport after I landed in Ben Gurion. They knew that I used to be going to the West Financial institution. They have been absolutely conscious. They only have been upset that – it is unconventional {that a} member of Congress would not go to Israel and does the Israeli authorities or APEC itinerary. And I wished to do a Palestinian-led tour that is…
CHANG: Effectively, Israeli officers weren’t the one ones upset. I imply, how do you reply to folks like Ambassador Huckabee, who says this complete journey was only a political stunt in your half?
KHANNA: He is a Donald Trump acolyte who clearly has supported a higher Israel and helps annexation. So, you understand, he clearly would not agree. However the attention-grabbing factor is the deputy chief of missions, David Brownstein, is the one who helped save our lives. He – we have been on the telephone with him after we have been on the van and after we have been detained. And he is the one who referred to as the Israeli authorities to lastly get the police to allow us to go, 75 to 90 minutes out. So, clearly, the American Embassy was additionally conscious that I used to be there, and I actually recognize what David Brownstein did. I love what he did.
CHANG: Can we discuss extra about your account of what occurred initially? So that you say that you simply have been stopped by Israeli settlers whereas touring in a car to a small village. Inform me why have been you heading there initially?
KHANNA: Effectively, we wished to see the Zanuta village. It was destroyed by Yinon Levi, who’s an extremist settler – nonetheless free. They usually had destroyed the village and the elementary college. And we have been taking photographs of that. By the way in which, the positioning we have been at three, 4 months in the past, different Congresspeople have been there – Congressman Casten, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. And on this half, the one that took us there, Nadav, an Israeli citizen, from Breaking the Silence.
CHANG: A peace activist. Sure.
KHANNA: Yeah. And it was not a restricted zone. In truth, even the IDF now has admitted that they have been flawed. It was not a restricted…
CHANG: Oh. OK.
KHANNA: …Zone.
CHANG: So let me simply – I am simply attempting to image what occurred. So your car is continuing in direction of this village, Zanuta.
KHANNA: No. We have been parked there.
CHANG: You have been parked there. And what occurred subsequent as soon as the automotive was stopped?
KHANNA: Then these extremist settlers got here – two of them – one in every of them with a M4 gun. The opposite one additionally armed. I used to be advised, get within the van. All of us bought into the van. They parked their automotive proper in entrance of our van, so we could not exit ‘trigger there was a single, dust street that went as much as this – the village. They usually began brandishing their gun, the M4. They usually – after we went and advised them – our interpreter and safety guard – that we have been with the Individuals and the American Embassy, they form of laughed. They stated that does not matter. And this went on for about 20, half-hour earlier than the IDF got here.
CHANG: After which what occurred when the IDF got here, the Israeli navy?
KHANNA: Effectively, when the IDF got here, initially, the settlers referred to as different settler pals of theirs. So there have been different vehicles that began blockading us in. After which there have been about 4 feminine officers. We stated, OK, clear this in order that an American delegation can get via, and so they refused to. They stated, no. We’re…
CHANG: Who refused?
KHANNA: …Right here – the IDF officers. They usually refused to clear the trail. They refused to inform the settlers to depart and allow us to via. They usually parked their car additionally blocking, additional, our exit and stated we simply have to remain there, and so they’re not going to permit us to maneuver.
CHANG: Effectively, the Israeli navy assertion about this complete incident denied that their troopers have been concerned in blocking the street. They usually say that they rapidly dispersed civilians and reopened the street. What’s your response to that assertion?
KHANNA: They now admit that we have been in a zone that we have been allowed to be in. They now admit that the – their troopers have been parked there and didn’t disperse the settlers and that they have been additional blocking us. They usually’re now claiming that they have been simply ready for orders from the police, and that is why they’d detained us. Nevertheless it nonetheless doesn’t change the information that there have been unlawful settlers that detained us and that the IDF sided with the settlers, because the videotape exhibits.
CHANG: Proper. I simply wish to level out there may be video of this incident, and there are witnesses who corroborate your account. Now, you say the aim of this three-day journey was to satisfy with Palestinians dwelling beneath Israeli occupation. And Congressman, in spite of everything that has occurred to you and your workforce, what’s your general takeaway from this expertise?
KHANNA: That the Israelis lie, that this authorities that lied about genocide has no downside mendacity in regards to the detention of Individuals, that there’s a conceit of energy and that they are completely out of contact with the truth that Individuals beneath 50 have completely misplaced confidence in Israel. And they are going to be in for a impolite awakening when there is a new era of energy in energy in America ’26 and 2028. And that the…
CHANG: Effectively, I used to be simply going to ask you. I imply, what may be completed to invoke that impolite awakening, as you place it? Is there a coverage resolution that may assist that individuals in Congress might help effectuate?
KHANNA: Effectively, they are going to lose all help, and we’ll cease navy gross sales. Massie Modification is a vote on ending help. It might not move now, nevertheless it definitely will move within the subsequent administration. They will lose navy gross sales. They will have an administration name them an apartheid state and name them a state that has dedicated genocide. They will lose our help within the United Nations. And we should not be giving cash to Israel that is utilizing it to detain Individuals.
CHANG: Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California, thanks very a lot in your time.
KHANNA: Thanks.
CHANG: And we are going to observe that we did request remark from the Israel Protection Forces – that is the Israeli navy – for clarification on their assertion following this interview. We’ve not but heard again from them. And we can even observe Israel strongly denies all allegations of genocide.
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