Congressman: Israeli Settlers Detained Me in West Bank

Rep. Ro Khanna said he was confronted by settlers and the Israeli military this week while visiting a Palestinian village in the southern West Bank. The settlers carrying American-made M4-style rifles blocked his group's van on the road, detaining him and others for more than an hour, the California Democrat said, Reuters reports. Israeli Defense Forces were called in, but Khanna said they sided with the settlers. An aide said appeals were made to the US Embassy before police officers arrived and cleared the way.

The Israeli military confirmed that troops and police responded to a report of settlers blocking vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta and said they dispersed the Israelis and let the cars pass. Khanna, who was visiting on a Palestinian-led itinerary, framed the trip as an uncensored look at life under occupation and criticized his party's leadership as out of touch with Democratic sentiment on support for Israel. "If they will do this to an American congressman, imagine what is happening to Palestinian families who are just trying to live," Khanna said in a statement, per the Los Angeles Times. "I expect Israel will prosecute the violent settlers and IDF soldiers who detained American citizens."