Brad Lander Says Israeli Forces Detained Him in West Bank

Brad Lander, the Democratic nominee for a New York congressional seat, said Israeli forces detained him during an olive harvest with Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank and later released him with a warning. Lander said he was harvesting olives with rabbis and other volunteers near Nehalin, close to Bethlehem, when he was taken into custody. In a post on X, he said several dozen members of the group remained detained after his release. Rabbis for Human Rights reported that about 80 to 90 volunteers were detained while accompanying Palestinian farmers. The group included Israeli and international participants. The organization said the harvest had been underway for roughly two hours when Israeli forces arrived and told those present that the area was a closed military zone. The Israel Defense Forces said harvesters, accompanied by others, entered an area near Beitar Illit without advance coordination. The military said harvesting there required a prior request and that forces detained those present because the uncoordinated activity posed a security risk and raised public-order concerns. The organization said the volunteers had been accompanying farmers and reported...