TEL AVIV: Brad Lander, a Democratic nominee for the US House of Representatives and an ally of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, was among 90 people detained by Israeli authorities in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday while accompanying Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest, according to Israeli rights group Rabbis for Human Rights.
Lander, a Jewish American and former New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate, is running for New York’s 10th congressional district in next month’s US congressional elections. He has been critical of Israel’s war in Gaza.
The detention comes amid rising tensions in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli settlers have increasingly disrupted the annual Palestinian olive harvest.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli police said they had arrested 10 people following settler attacks on an American photographer and a French mayor. The incidents drew international condemnation and prompted scrutiny of the Israeli government’s response.
Police said officers raided several locations across the occupied territory and seized vehicles and potential evidence linked to the attacks.
“Following the severe incidents of violence over the past weekend, including the assault of a media worker and the suspected attacks on foreign civilians, an arrest operation was conducted before dawn,” said Major General Moshe Finchi, the Israeli police’s West Bank commander.
He said suspects had been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the violent incidents, violating a military commander’s order concerning a closed military zone, and illegal construction.