On Wednesday’s “CNN News Central,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) argued that there is no wrong time to recognize a Palestinian state, but Hamas should not be involved in it, and that the International Criminal Court should not arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but that something like South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be set up.
Co-host John Berman asked, “Do you think this shows that terrorism pays?”
Khanna responded: “No, we should recognise a Palestinian state. This is US policy, a two-state solution, supported by 143 countries at the UN. Nelson Mandela called for a Palestinian state when he was in the US in 1990. It’s time for us to recognise it. I don’t think Hamas should have any role in a Palestinian state, but recognising the Palestinian right to self-determination and a Palestinian state is in no way saying Hamas should be involved.”
Berman asked, “Do you think the timing sends the wrong message since we’ve been in the midst of a war between Israel and Hamas since October 7?”
Khanna replied, “No, I never think it’s the wrong time to recognise people’s right to self-determination. My grandfather was part of India’s struggle against British colonialism. And every year during that period, they would say, ‘Is it the right time to give freedom to India?’ We need to recognise the state of Palestine. That was the US policy.”
The discussion then turned to the ICC warrant, and Khanna said, “I don’t think Prime Minister Netanyahu should be arrested. I’m very critical of Prime Minister Netanyahu, but in my view, the Hamas terrorist organization and a democratic state are not the same thing. I have deep disagreements with Prime Minister Netanyahu. But I also don’t think the US should sanction the ICC. The ICC should be allowed to do its job, find out what laws were broken and issue a report. That doesn’t mean we should arrest Israeli leaders. I don’t think that will lead to a two-state solution or a peace process. I would look to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which in my view is a much better model.”
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