Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is demanding that the United States immediately cut off all military and economic aid to Israel unless the Israeli government halts settlement expansion in the West Bank.
In a strongly worded statement Friday, the progressive California congressman accused Israel of “undermining any possibility of peace” through continued settlement activity. Khanna said:
“The U.S. must make clear that there will be consequences for these actions. We should condition aid on Israel freezing settlement expansion and taking meaningful steps toward a two-state solution.”
Khanna’s push comes as the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued approving new housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The congressman argues that American taxpayers should not be funding policies he describes as illegal under international law and detrimental to long-term regional stability.
This marks one of the most direct calls yet from a sitting Democratic member of Congress to leverage U.S. aid — currently around $3.8 billion annually — as a tool to pressure Israel. Khanna, a prominent progressive voice who has increasingly criticized Israeli policy, previously supported conditioning aid but has now escalated to demanding a full cutoff unless Israel complies.
The remarks drew swift backlash from pro-Israel Democrats and Republicans, who argue that tying aid to Israel amid ongoing regional threats — especially from Iran and its proxies — weakens a key ally at a dangerous time. Critics also pointed out that Khanna’s position aligns closely with the far-left wing of the Democratic Party, which has grown increasingly hostile toward Israel since October 2023.
Khanna said Saturday that he had been detained for a few hours by settlers and Israeli military in the occupied West Bank and released only after calls to the American Embassy. In a statement, the IDF said that officers were dispatched to the Khirbet Zanuta area to disperse civilians blocking the entourage, but "IDF soldiers.. did not take part in blocking the road".
The White House and State Department have so far rejected any immediate cuts to aid, with officials emphasizing Israel’s right to self-defense and the strategic importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
