Ro Khanna, IDF offer step-by-step war of words on West Bank clash

Democrat Ro.Khanna’s claims of a ”violent” confrontation with armed settlers on the West Bank were dramatically contradicted on by Israeli officials Monday.Israel Defense Forces, Israel Police, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S.

and Khanna have each released competing narratives over an incident that has become a new battleground in the increasingly bitter debate over Israel’s conduct in the occupied West Bank.On Saturday Khanna posted Saturday on X that “Israeli settlers, brandishing American-made M4s” detained him and other Americans while they toured the occupied West Bank last week.“When the IDF arrived, they sided with the settlers and continued our detention,” Khanna wrote.“They made a huge mistake.”But Israeli authorities insist the incident unfolded differently.According to the IDF, soldiers were dispatched near Khirbet Zanuta after receiving reports that foreign nationals had entered what was believed to be a closed military zone while Israeli civilians had blocked a nearby road.The military said soldiers moved the civilians away from the area, verified there was no security threat and later confirmed the location “was not, in fact, a closed military zone” before allowing the convoy to continue.“The process lasted several minutes,” the IDF said, adding that “there was no physical confrontation or violence between those involved.”The military also disclosed that one armed individual at the scene was an off-duty IDF soldier whose conduct is now under review.

It acknowledged Khanna’s visit had not been coordinated in advance and said procedures governing interactions with foreign diplomats would be reinforced.Khanna, a Bay Area congressman who was accused of ignoring an invitation to meet former Israeli hostages and survivors of the horrific Hamas Oct.7, 2023 terrorist attack, has increasingly aligned himself with the Democratic Party’s left flank, clashing with long-time tech allies while embracing causes that have put h...