RELEASE: KHANNA JOINED BIPARTISAN CODEL TO JORDAN, ISRAEL, SAUDI ARABIA TO MEET OUR TROOPS AND DISCUSS WAYS FORWARD FOR PEACE

Washington, DC -This week, Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) joined a bipartisan congressional trip to the Middle East with stops in Jordan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. The trip was led by House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and included Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Seth Moulton (D-MA).

As part of the trip, the delegation met with King Abdullah II of Jordan and Prime Minister Netanyahu separately. Rep. Khanna issued the below statement on the meetings:

"Our congressional delegation met with both King Abdullah II of Jordan and Prime Minister Netanyahu on the same day for discussions on the escalating conflict in the Middle East and how we can constructively find a path forward towards peace.

With King Abdullah II, we discussed the need to prevent escalation in the West Bank and Gaza that could lead to further displacement of Palestinians and a broader conflict. We discussed the importance of supporting economic development in Jordan. The King brought up that Jordan was committed to sending trucks with humanitarian aid for people in northern Gaza and wanted the U.S. to help facilitate that.

Afterwards, we traveled to Israel for a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. When I made the decision to skip Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress earlier this year, I stated publiclythat if he wanted to sit down with Members of Congress for a back and forth discussion, I would be open to doing that.

In this meeting, I urged the Prime Minister to deescalate operations in Lebanon and Gaza. In a positive development, the Prime Minister agreed to allow Jordan aid trucks to have access through Jordan. We also spoke about a post war convening of leaders from Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Palestine, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia to ease tensions and plan for the future in Gaza.

I appreciated the Prime Minister engaging in conversation. I have been clear that the Jewish people have the right to a Jewish, democratic state and that the state of Israel must be secure. The killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is justice served, and I urge that this mark the end of the war with all innocent hostages released, a surge of aid, and a beginning of the post-war convening of leaders in the region.

It is my hope that through diplomacy and a willingness to listen and make arguments to seek truth and justice, a new path forward can be charted."