U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Tuesday rejected claims by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., that his office was notified before a congressional delegation visited the West Bank, where Khanna said he and his group were detained by Israeli settlers. Huckabee posted on X that the embassy was not informed and would have advised against entering a restricted zone, calling the incident a «stunt» that did not involve being «held at gunpoint.»
Khanna, a progressive Democrat from California, told Fox News Digital that he was detained for 75 minutes last Wednesday while visiting the West Bank, which he referred to by its biblical names Judea and Samaria. He said the group's van was blocked by settlers who brandished an M4 rifle and kicked the tires, and that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) officers initially sided with the settlers. Khanna insisted that the embassy was aware of the trip, stating, «We had informed the Israeli embassy,» and that Deputy Chief of Mission David Brownstein helped secure their release.
The dispute escalated on social media, where Huckabee wrote, «The left-wing activist who set up this stunt says 'The embassy is involved.' That is NOT TRUE. We did NOT know a member of Congress was coming. We would have said don't go to restricted zone.» Khanna responded by thanking Brownstein and asserting that the IDF later clarified the area was not a restricted zone, adding that Israeli media confirmed his account. He called for the prosecution of the settlers and an investigation into the IDF officers involved.
Critics have questioned Khanna's narrative. Eitan Fischberger, an Israeli Mideast analyst, posted footage on X that he said debunked claims of a violent detention, calling it a «glorious self-own.» Khanna dismissed the video as false and provided his own footage showing the confrontation. Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, described the visit as a «publicity stunt» ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run, noting that Khanna did not coordinate security or diplomatic details with Israeli authorities.
Khanna faced additional criticism from fellow Democrat Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, who wrote on X that Khanna ignored requests to meet survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack or visit sites of the massacre, instead using the trip as a «presidential campaign cameo.» Khanna responded that the purpose of the tour was a Palestinian-led perspective and that he had met with hostage families on previous visits to Israel. He denied using the trip for political gain, saying, «I do not know what he was talking about.»
Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, issued a lengthy response on X, stating that Khanna was offered in-depth coordination of his schedule to avoid misunderstandings but chose to ignore it. Leiter emphasized that the offer went beyond mere notification of his presence in the country. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials over visits to the West Bank, particularly those focused on Palestinian perspectives.
Khanna, a vocal critic of Israeli policy and supporter of Palestinian statehood, has a history of pro-Palestinian activism that critics say aligns with anti-Israel groups. The October 7 Hamas attack, which killed over 1,200 people including more than 40 Americans, has further polarized views on such visits. The clash between Huckabee and Khanna reflects broader debates within the U.S. political landscape over engagement with Israeli and Palestinian narratives, as well as the role of American diplomats in facilitating congressional travel to sensitive areas.
