US Congressional Candidate Detained by IDF Near Bethlehem

By Эйнав Халаби, Идан Блюмхоф

Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba

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The IDF detained around 80 American activists and volunteers, including U.S. Congressional candidate Brad Lander, near Nahalin on October 21 as they helped harvest olives. The military declared the area a closed zone, releasing Lander with a warning. The group "Rabbis for Human Rights" stated the volunteers were unaware of the closure. Separately, an operation on October 19 led to the arrest of eight Jewish extremists suspected of attacking journalists and diplomats during olive harvests.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

IDF detained 80 American activists, including US Congressional candidate Brad Lander, near Nahalin on October 21.
The military declared the agricultural land a closed military zone for 24 hours.
Brad Lander was released with a warning after stating olive harvesting is not illegal.
The group "Rabbis for Human Rights" stated volunteers were unaware of the military order.
An IDF operation on October 19 arrested eight Jewish extremists for alleged attacks.
Three suspects from the October 19 arrests were placed under house arrest on October 21.

US Congressional Candidate Detained by IDF Near Bethlehem — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

The Israeli military (IDF) detained approximately 80 American activists and volunteers near the Palestinian village of Nahalin on Wednesday, October 21, who had arrived to assist local residents in olive harvesting. The IDF declared the agricultural land a closed military zone for 24 hours. Among those detained was Brad Lander, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from the Democratic Party and former New York City Comptroller. Lander, who is Jewish, stated on X that he and a group of rabbis and volunteers were detained while collecting olives, asserting that occupation is a crime under international law and olive harvesting is not illegal. He was later released with a warning. The organization "Rabbis for Human Rights" reported that the volunteers arrived to help villagers harvest olives in an area allegedly closed to Palestinians since October 7, 2023. Soldiers arrived about two hours after the group's arrival and presented an order declaring the area a closed military zone. The organization claims the group was unaware of this order. Volunteers offered to disperse voluntarily but were detained for identification, with soldiers photographing their passports and IDs. The olive grove is located near Beitar Illit, and agricultural work in the area requires prior coordination, though previous requests for olive harvesting have been granted. The IDF noted that the grove in question was small and did not require dozens of assistants. In a separate but related operation, on the night of October 19, the IDF, police, and Shin Bet launched "Operation Olive Leaf" to detain Jewish extremists suspected of attacking a Washington Post photojournalist and a delegation of European diplomats. Eight individuals were arrested in that operation. On October 21, an Israeli court placed three suspects under house arrest and released one unconditionally, with hearings for three others pending.