# Brad Lander detained by IDF in West Bank

> New York politician Brad Lander detained by Israeli forces during olive harvest in West Bank.
- Title: Brad Lander detained by IDF in West Bank · ABC News | Shortify
- Summary: New York politician Brad Lander detained by Israeli forces during olive harvest in West Bank. Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was briefly…
- Keywords: brad lander, idf, west bank, olive harvest, protect the harvest, rabbis for human rights, new york city, democratic primary, congressional candidate, israeli foreign ministry, zohran mamdani, news
- Source: ABC News — https://abcnews.com/International/congressional-candidate-brad-lander-detained-idf-west-bank/story?id=137447702
- Author: ABC News
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: brad lander, idf, west bank, olive harvest, protect the harvest, rabbis for human rights, new york city, democratic primary, congressional candidate, israeli foreign ministry, zohran mamdani, news
## Brad Lander detained
New York politician Brad Lander was briefly detained by the Israel Defense Forces while harvesting olives in the West Bank.

> i've been detained by the idf, along with a group of rabbis & volunteers. we were simply harvesting olives in a grove near nehelim in the west bank
## Lander's campaign background
Lander, the former New York City comptroller and council member, joined rabbis and volunteers for Protect the Harvest, a non-profit helping Palestinian farmers harvest olives.
## Lander's statement
Lander said he was harvesting olives with volunteers when armed military members stopped them and placed them on buses.

> we were simply harvesting olives in a grove near nehelim in the west bank
## IDF release statement
The IDF released Lander with a warning after he was detained, stating he was released once the matter was brought to their attention.

> regarding reports of the detention of a congressional candidate we note that he was released once the matter was brought to our attention
## Lander's release details
Lander was released with a warning after he told authorities he was not yet a congressmember but a nominee.

> i told them i wasn't even a congressmember yet just a nominee
## Rabbis for Human Rights response
Rabbis for Human Rights said they were harvesting peacefully and disputed allegations of not following protocol with authorities.

> we came to accompany farmers to land they have not been able to reach in three years
## Israeli Foreign Ministry reaction
Israel's Foreign Ministry called Lander's detention a 'stunt' and claimed he ignored instructions to coordinate with Israeli authorities.

> his own team contacted israeli representatives in the united states ahead of his visit and was explicitly informed that proper coordination with the relevant authorities was required
## Lander's defense
Lander said he informed the U.S. embassy of his trip and was not told to coordinate with Israeli authorities about the harvesting.

> when we got off the bus we didn't go through a checkpoint we didn't pass any israeli military or any kind of security
## Key takeaway

Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was briefly detained by IDF in West Bank while harvesting olives with volunteers, later released with a warning.