Brad Lander, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress from New York, was detained Wednesday by the Israeli military in the West Bank (Palestinian Authority). The politician was taking part in an olive harvest with Palestinian farmers, rabbis and international volunteers. He announced the incident on social media, posting a photo from the bus carrying those who had been detained. Lander was released several hours later.
The detention took place near the Palestinian town of Nahalin, not far from Bethlehem. Israeli forces reportedly detained several dozen harvest participants there, including citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel.
“I was detained by the Israeli military along with a group of rabbis and volunteers. We were simply harvesting olives in a grove in the West Bank,” the politician wrote. He added that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories violates international law, while harvesting olives is not a crime.
I’ve been detained by the IDF, along with a group of rabbis & volunteers. We were simply harvesting olives in a grove near Nehalim in the West Bank.
The occupation is a crime under international law. Harvesting olives isn’t a crime under any law I know. pic.twitter.com/r7B5Q3RvjY
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) October 21, 2026
Lander came to the West Bank as part of the “Protect the Harvest” initiative, which aims to support Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest. According to the organizers, the presence of foreign volunteers is also meant to protect residents from attacks by Israeli settlers.
“Our goal is to help protect the olive harvest and to show the reality of the occupation,” Lander said earlier.
I'm in the West Bank this week as part of the “Protect the Harvest” coalition along with @israelispeaceny, @ucpinpalestine & Protect the Harvest, which is bringing people together from around the world to help Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the face of state-sanctioned… pic.twitter.com/1uGKGl9ZEo
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) October 19, 2026
Israeli authorities said the group was harvesting near Israeli settlements without “the required coordination with the authorities.” According to Israeli police, the area had been designated a closed military zone for security reasons. That justification was challenged, however, in Israeli media. The Times of Israel reported that, according to maps provided to Palestinian farmers by the Israeli civil administration, the site of the detention was not in an area requiring prior coordination of access.
After his release, Lander called for the remaining detainees to be freed.
“I was released from IDF (Israel Defense Forces) custody with a ‘warning,’ probably because of my status (I explained to them that I’m not yet a member of Congress, only a candidate),” he wrote in a post on X. “But several dozen rabbis and other people who were harvesting olives with me are still in custody. For harvesting olives. They should all be released immediately,” the politician added.
I’ve been released from IDF custody with a “warning,” apparently because of my public profile (I told them I wasn’t even a congressmember yet, just a nominee).
But several dozen rabbis & participants harvesting olives with me are still in detention. For harvesting olives. They… pic.twitter.com/BcSNkTYUxF
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) October 21, 2026
Editor: JŁ
Source: Nowy Dziennik
