Israel detains US congressional candidate at West Bank olive harvest

RAMALLAH: Israeli forces on Wednesday briefly detained a US congressional candidate as he joined activists supporting Palestinians harvesting olives in the face of threats by extremist settlers.

Brad Lander, a left-wing Democrat who is expected to easily win a House seat in New York City on November 3, posted on social media that he was detained along with a group of rabbis and volunteers as they harvested olives west of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

“The occupation is a crime under international law. Harvesting olives isn’t a crime under any law I know,” Lander wrote on X.

He later wrote that he was released on account of his prominence, adding that “Palestinians face far worse consequences every day”.

The Israeli foreign ministry lashed out at Lander over what it called a “calculated political stunt”, and said he had ignored guidance to coordinate with Israeli authorities.

“This was not about harvesting olives. It was about harvesting headlines,” it said.

The Israeli military said that the Palestinian landowner had not requested permission to conduct the harvest.

“This coordination is necessary to ensure the security of the area and maintain public order,” it said, pointing to the “security risk of an uncoordinated harvest” near an Israeli settlement.

Israel has faced growing international criticism over violence during the harvest, with rights groups documenting multiple attacks and other disruptions each day by settlers against Palestinians.

Israel on Monday announced it had made several arrests after settlers beat up a US photojournalist covering the incidents and a French mayor who had come for the olive season.

The violence comes in the final days before Israeli elections in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to shore up his right-wing base, which is staunchly pro-settlement.

Israel has come under growing fire within the United States, traditionally its top ally.

Lander, who is Jewish, is a close ally of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, an outspoken critic of Israeli policies.

In a party primary in June, Lander ousted the sitting congressman, Dan Goldman, one of a dwindling number of Democrats who support Israel.