Israeli forces detain US congressional candidate in West Bank

Two human rights groups said Israeli forces on Wednesday detained Brad Lander, a Democratic candidate in next month's US congressional elections, in the occupied West Bank along with other Americans and Israelis as they joined Palestinian farmers for the olive harvest.

Lander later wrote on X that authorities released him after issuing a warning, suggesting his public profile may have been a factor. He noted that dozens of rabbis and other participants remained in custody.

In an earlier post, Lander said, "Occupation is a crime under international law. Harvesting olives is not a crime under any law I know," explaining that he was detained by the army.

Lander was part of a group of foreign volunteers, which an organizer said included British and Canadian citizens, who accompanied local farmers during the olive harvest. Palestinian farmers often face the threat of violence from Israeli settlers, and the volunteers' presence is seen as a protective measure known as 'protective accompaniment.'

Lander, a Jewish American, previously served as New York City Comptroller and ran for mayor. He is currently running for the US House of Representatives in New York’s 10th District in the November 3 midterm elections. He is also an ally of New York City Council member Zohran Mamdani and a critic of Israel’s war on Gaza.

The annual olive harvest is a cultural tradition and a vital source of income for Palestinians, but it is frequently targeted by violent attacks from Israeli extremists.

Attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and other civilians in the West Bank earlier this week prompted US Senator Marco Rubio to urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government on Saturday to address the violence.

Speaking to reporters by phone from Beit Jala in the West Bank, Lander said, "The real story here is the extent to which the Israeli government is working to prevent Palestinian farmers from harvesting their olives, walking their roads, living in their homes, and staying on their land. I had the chance to see this firsthand."

Lander added that he was detained for about three hours, including time spent at the harvest site, while his companions were held for nearly nine hours.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused Lander of "seeking confrontation," saying he ignored advice prior to his visit to coordinate with Israeli authorities.

Lander responded that the Israeli embassy in Washington had recommended coordination with local authorities but did not explicitly require it. He added that he had participated in the olive harvest for the past two days without incident.