I experienced firsthand the cruel realities of Israel’s apartheid system and the settler violence.
John, this is Ro Khanna.
I just returned from Palestine, where I spent several days meeting with families about the daily realities of life under occupation.
While visiting a Palestinian school that had been burned down by settlers, my staff and I were surrounded by armed settlers carrying American-made M4 rifles. They blocked our vehicle, called in reinforcements, mocked us, and held us against our will for more than an hour.
When Israeli soldiers arrived, I expected them to stop the settlers. Instead, they protected them.
I was eventually allowed to leave because I'm an American member of Congress. Millions of Palestinians don't have that privilege.
If violent settlers and the Israeli military could do this to an American congressman, imagine what Palestinian families endure every day—with no cameras, no headlines, and no one to speak up for them.
Throughout this trip, I met people who had lost loved ones, been driven from their land, and were struggling for the most basic human rights: safety, freedom of movement, and the dignity to live in peace.
For too long, their voices have been ignored.
That’s why I’m demanding consequences for violent extremism and continued settlement expansion.
- Designate the Hilltop Youth as a terrorist group,
- Prosecute violent settlers like Yinon Levy, and
- Halt all settlement construction in the occupied West Bank
I won't be silenced about what I witnessed in Palestine. I'll continue sharing the stories I heard over the coming weeks because Americans deserve to know what is happening.
If you're with me, will you rush a $10 contribution—or whatever you can afford—to help me continue this fight?
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Thank you for your support, your activism, and all that you do.
Onward,
Ro
