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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

One detail in the IDF statement changes the whole Ro Khanna story - opinion

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Named sources Context piece
  • US Representative Ro Khanna claims Israeli settlers with American-made rifles detained him in the West Bank, with IDF soldiers siding with the settlers.
  • The author disputes Khanna's account, highlighting discrepancies between his statements and an IDF review that mentioned only "the armed individual."
  • Discrepancies also exist regarding how Khanna's group was released, with different accounts from Khanna, his aide, Israeli officials, and the IDF.

U.S. Representative Ro Khanna has stated that Israeli settlers armed with American-made M4 rifles detained him in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), and that IDF soldiers present sided with the settlers, prolonging his detention. The author acknowledges that an incident did occur near Khirbet Zanuta on Wednesday, where armed young men surrounded a minibus carrying Khanna, cursed at the passengers, filmed them, and blocked the road for over an hour, with a New York Times photographer present.

the IDF statement says it is reviewing the identity of "the armed individual."

— IDF statementThe Israeli military's account of the incident involving Ro Khanna, highlighting a singular armed individual.

However, the author questions the accuracy of Khanna's narrative, pointing out inconsistencies. Khanna told Reuters that the men had "machine guns," yet the M4 is a carbine. More significantly, an IDF statement mentioned reviewing the identity of "the armed individual" (singular), contrasting with Khanna's tweet describing "settlers" (plural) brandishing rifles. The author suggests that one of these descriptions is inaccurate and verifiable.

Further discrepancies arise concerning the release of Khanna and his group. Khanna's tweet indicated continued detention by the IDF, while his aide told reporters they were released upon the arrival of officers. Khanna also told CNN they were freed after the embassy contacted a senior Israeli official, with Haaretz reporting the Foreign Ministry's involvement. The army's account states its troops cleared the road. The author notes four different endings to the story, all involving Israelis getting Khanna out, and observes that American coverage has largely omitted the men who actually blocked the road, focusing instead on Khanna's detention by the IDF.

His tweet has settlers, plural, brandishing rifles.

— Zvika KleinThe author pointing out the discrepancy between the IDF statement and Ro Khanna's description of the settlers.

Additionally, the article raises questions about the coordination of Khanna's visit. Khanna claims the Israeli government was notified, but an Israeli security source states the visit was never coordinated, which would explain the lack of security. The author points out that this was a tour exclusively of Judea and Samaria, with programming entirely arranged by Palestinian hosts.

An Israeli security source says the visit was never coordinated, which is why he had no security.

— Israeli security sourceAn unnamed source disputing Ro Khanna's claim that his trip was coordinated with Israeli authorities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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