An American Democratic candidate was detained by Israelis in the West Bank along with approximately 80 other activists while they were picking olives alongside Palestinian farmers

Călin Nicolescu

21 October 2026, 16:49

International

Foto https://www.facebook.com/BradLander?locale=ro_RO

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Brad Lander, the Democratic Party candidate for the U.S. Congress, was detained on Wednesday in the occupied West Bank, along with dozens of activists who were picking olives near Bethlehem. According to the Israeli organization “Rabbis for Human Rights,” the group was informed that it was in a closed military zone and was taken to a police station.

Lander was subsequently released, but the other participants remained detained, with no known official charges. The activists say they were accompanying Palestinian farmers to protect them from attacks by Israeli settlers. Violence against Palestinians has intensified, prompting calls from U.S. officials for the Israeli government to intervene.

Context: settler attacks during the olive harvest, international reactions and arrests in the West Bank

Before the detentions mentioned in the article, violent incidents related to the olive harvest were reported in the West Bank. American photojournalist Heidi Levine (The Washington Post) was struck and taken to hospital after Israeli settlers attacked a group of Palestinians picking olives, while the Israeli army announced an investigation and spoke of tear gas and warning shots.

Subsequently, a delegation of European diplomats was attacked in Taybeh (including representatives of Belgium, France and Poland, as well as individuals from the Catholic Church), and the Israeli Police announced the arrests of several suspects. The EU called for the perpetrators to be held accountable and for concrete measures to protect Palestinians and stop the escalation, while also noting that the statement of October 18 does not introduce new sanctions.

Against the backdrop of these episodes, the US administration also pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn the actions of settlers in Qusra, where Palestinian families had been blockaded for nearly a week, and one of the homes belonged to a Palestinian with American citizenship.