IDF Detains New York Congressional Candidate During West Bank Olive Harvest
Brad Lander, a Democratic congressional candidate from New York, was detained by the Israel Defense Forces while volunteering with Palestinian farmers in the West Bank.
The Israel Defense Forces detained Brad Lander, a Democratic candidate for New York's 10th Congressional District, on Wednesday during an olive harvest in the West Bank. Lander was part of an international delegation organized by the Protect the Harvest coalition, which provides a protective presence for Palestinian farmers facing settler violence.
Military forces intercepted the group in an olive grove near Nehalim, an area authorities had designated as a closed military zone. Lander was held for approximately three hours before being released with a warning. He noted that military officials released him specifically because of his status as a public official, a gesture of special treatment he protested.
While Lander was released, dozens of other volunteers, including rabbis and foreign nationals, remained in custody at the Beitar Illit police station and the Etzion military base. The incident occurred amid rising tensions in the West Bank, following reports of settler attacks on a Washington Post journalist and European diplomats. Following his release, Lander stated that the occupation is a crime under international law and that harvesting olives is not a crime.
