Israeli Forces Detain US Candidate in West Bank, Release Him Hours Later
Israeli forces detained Brad Lander, a Democratic candidate for the US House of Representatives, while he was helping Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. He was released hours later, while dozens of other volunteers, including American rabbis, remained in custody.
The incident comes amid escalating violence during this year’s olive harvest, with Palestinian farmers facing growing restrictions on access to their land and reported attacks involving Israeli settlers.
The Israeli military said the farmers and volunteers had not obtained prior approval and were detained over security concerns linked to an “uncoordinated harvest” near an Israeli community. It also accused the activists of arriving with the intention of provoking tensions.
Lander criticised the restrictions after his release, writing on social media: “Harvesting olives isn’t a crime under any law I know.” He accused Israeli forces of undermining Palestinians’ right to cultivate their groves, travel on roads and live in their homes.
Israeli police said Lander was released after authorities learnt he was a congressional candidate.
According to anti-settlement group Peace Now, the military has expanded by nearly 30 per cent the area of farmland Palestinians cannot access without prior approval, taking it to 88 square kilometres. The military declined to comment on the figures, saying farmers must coordinate access to areas under Israeli security control.
Israeli rights group Yesh Din and the Palestinian Farmers’ Union have described the 2026 harvest as the most violent in recent history, citing hundreds of reported thefts, clashes and arson attacks.
Among those detained was American rabbi Jill Jacobs, who accused the Israeli government of using military restrictions to intimidate Palestinian communities and those supporting them.
Lander, who defeated incumbent US Representative Dan Goldman in the Democratic primary for New York’s 10th congressional district, has been endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The contest highlighted divisions within the Democratic Party over support for Israel and the war in Gaza.