Israeli forces detain US congressional candidate at olive harvest

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 18:03 · Archive

Israeli forces detained Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander as he helped Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the occupied West Bank, releasing him hours later.

Israeli forces detained Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander on Wednesday as he helped Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the occupied West Bank. He was released hours later, but dozens of other volunteers, including a group of American rabbis, remained in custody. Lander is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in a heavily Democratic New York district.

The Israeli military said the farmers and volunteers had failed to seek prior approval for the harvest and were detained 'due to the security risk posed by conducting an uncoordinated harvest near an Israeli community'. The military later characterised the arrival of activists as 'an act intended solely to provoke, which undermines the harvesting process'. The incident occurred during an annual olive harvest marked by violence between Israeli settlers and Palestinian villagers.

Lander stated on social media: 'The occupation is a crime under international law. Harvesting olives isn't a crime under any law I know.' He added that the detentions were 'one more attempt to undermine Palestinians' right to harvest their olive groves, travel on their roads, and live in their homes'. This year, Palestinians have been required to coordinate with the Israeli military to access more of their privately owned farmland than in previous years. The anti-settlement group Peace Now reported that the army had expanded by nearly 30 per cent the area of farmland Palestinians cannot enter without prior approval, to 34 square miles.

How it is being reported

• Israeli forces detain and then release US congressional candidate at West Bank harvestIsraeli forces have detained Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander as he helped Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the West Bank.News4Jax · 21 Oct, 17:19
• Israeli forces detain and then release US congressional candidate at West Bank harvestIsraeli forces have detained Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander as he helped Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the West Bank.Clickorlando · 21 Oct, 17:19

In this story: Brad Lander · Israeli military · Peace Now · West Bank · Palestinian

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