Lefty California Rep. Ro Khanna callously ignored an invite to satisfy former Israeli hostages and survivors of the horrific Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist assault throughout a go to to the Holy Land this week, a supply conversant in the planning informed The Submit.
Workers for Khanna (D-Calif.) first obtained in contact with the Israeli Embassy July 2, and claimed that it was a non-public journey, and that he wouldn’t be assembly with Israeli or Palestinian politicians, based on the supply.
On Monday, the Israelis supplied a gathering with Oct. 7 survivors and former hostages to Khanna’s staff, however they blew them off, the supply stated.
The Israelis adopted up the subsequent day and Khanna’s staff by no means obtained again to them, the supply stated.
“Congressman Khanna didn’t come to grasp the scenario — he got here on the lookout for a headline. Israel went out of its means to supply Congressman Khanna with entry to communities that mirrored the complexity of the scenario, he selected a special path,” the supply stated.
Over 1,200 Israelis have been murdered and 250 taken captive throughout Hamas’ barbaric Oct. 7 terrorist assault, some have been held hostage for so long as 843 days.
The Israelis additionally supplied for Khanna to meet with Druze communities within the Golan Heights, representatives from Israeli border communities and to arrange a briefing on assist entering into Gaza, however the congressman by no means took them up on it, the supply added.
Khanna claimed he was detained by armed Israeli settlers brandishing M4 rifles throughout a tour of the West Financial institution in a put up on X Saturday, which contained video and photos of the incident.
He went on to state that Israeli Protection Forces later continued blocking the street after the settlers left, and that he was solely in a position to proceed his journey after he known as the US embassy and Israeli police.
“They made an enormous mistake. You’ll be listening to extra quickly,” Khanna threatened on X.
One other supply who was conversant in Khanna’s preparations for the journey, claimed that the Congressman was attempting to “trip the anti-Israel wave” of his occasion and repeatedly rebuffed Israeli efforts to assist coordinate his journey into the West Financial institution.
Khanna, who as soon as touted his help for Israel, has lately became a pointy critic of the Jewish state and has been linked with a number of allegedly antisemitic figures.
Streamer Hasan Piker posted on X that he could be talking with Khanna Monday concerning the alleged incident. Piker has known as Orthodox Jews “inbred” and stated that Hamas is “1,000 occasions” higher than Israel.
The California Democrat who has floated a presidential run in 2028, endorsed embattled Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who sported a Nazi tattoo and lately dropped out of the race following a rape allegation.
Khanna’s workers later clarified with Israeli officers that the go to, which started Wednesday, was a “marketing campaign journey,” and stated he could be paying for his go to with marketing campaign funds.
A spokesperson for Khanna stated their staff flagged the journey to Home management, the American and Israeli embassies prematurely, and that they have been licensed to make use of marketing campaign funds for the journey.
“We recognize [Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem] David Brownstein, whose intervention saved lives,” the spokesperson stated, referring to the incident with the Israeli settlers.
The spokesperson didn’t make clear whose life was at risk, and didn’t reply to The Submit’s questions concerning a gathering with Israeli hostages or Oct. 7 survivors.
