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Ro Khanna on Israel

Progressive on Palestine, Pro-Israel (strong)

TL;DR

Ro Khanna supports Israel's right to exist and Zionism while strongly criticizing settlement expansion and military actions, advocating for Palestinian statehood.

Key Points

  • He introduced a resolution explicitly condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and settler violence, referencing potential sanctions under the Magnitsky Act.

  • The representative was one of a few members of Congress to agree with a UN commission's finding that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, linking this to calls for stopping military sales.

  • He led a letter with 47 colleagues urging the US to officially recognize a Palestinian state, stating it is a moral issue where the US should join the majority of the world.

Summary

The Congressman Ro Khanna maintains a position that attempts to balance support for Israel’s existence with progressive critiques of its policies, often aligning with the left wing of his party. He explicitly states that he believes in Zionism and Israel's right to exist, viewing denial of a Jewish state as a form of modern antisemitism. However, he is among the more vocal members of Congress criticizing Israel's military campaign in Gaza and U.S. support for it, having agreed with a UN commission finding that genocide occurred there. He advocates for policy shifts, including stopping military sales used against civilians and recognizing a Palestinian state, which he has actively pushed for through congressional letters.

His specific actions focus heavily on the conflict's West Bank dimension, where he introduced a resolution condemning Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence, calling for accountability and potentially targeted sanctions against involved individuals. The lawmaker has also advocated for concrete steps toward a two-state solution, such as pushing for US recognition of Palestine after other international allies did so. While supporting continued U.S. aid to Israel, he favors leveraging that aid to pressure the Israeli government to halt settlement building, home demolitions, and ease the blockade on Gaza, framing this conditional support within a desire to see the relationship succeed on progressive values that promote peace and human rights.

Key Quotes

“More than 150 countries recognize Palestinian statehood. This is a moral issue. We cannot be isolated from the rest of the free world. We must stand up for the dignity and rights of the Palestinian people. That is why I am pushing for the US to join in recognizing Palestinian statehood,”

“I believe that Zionism is self-determination of the Jewish people, and the right for Israel to exist. And I support that. What I don't believe is if it means Greater Israel,”

“I believe @AyannaPressley we can work on a progressive agenda for peace on these principles. 1) Halt all settlement growth; 2) Halt Palestinian home demolitions; 3) Ease the terms of the Gaza blockade.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Ro Khanna is a Democratic critic of Israel's policies who nonetheless affirms his belief in Zionism and the right for Israel to exist as a Jewish state. He seeks to balance this support with a strong progressive push for Palestinian rights and a two-state solution.

His foundational stance of supporting Israel's existence while criticizing specific policies appears consistent, though his advocacy has become more pronounced and specific, particularly concerning settlements and the war in Gaza. He has been among the most vocal members in Congress on these issues.

The lawmaker stated that denying the idea of a Jewish state is a modern form of antisemitism, rejecting that premise entirely. He believes Zionism is the self-determination of the Jewish people.