WHAT’S HAPPENING
Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander traveled to the West Bank last week, where he was briefly detained by Israeli Defense Forces while participating in an olive harvest near the village of Nahalin.
Lander filmed himself on a bus claiming to have been held alongside a group of rabbis and volunteers. This is just the latest instance of a Democrat seeking trouble to grab a quick headline.
THE FACTS
Israel's Foreign Ministry stated that Lander's team contacted Israeli representatives before his visit and was "explicitly informed that proper coordination with the relevant authorities was required."
The ministry posted on social media: "This was not about harvesting olives. It was about harvesting headlines."
The IDF explained that harvesting in the area requires advance requests to ensure security and public order near Israeli communities.
Approximately 100 coordinated harvests have taken place across Judea and Samaria this season, yielding dozens of tons of produce without incident.
A leaked internal document from Protect the Harvest, the group organizing the trip, describes Israel as "genocidal" and engaged in "ethnic cleansing."
The document states the trip's goal is to build support for "international intervention" against Israel.
Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman criticized Lander, saying foreign activists often "instigate" violence at olive harvests and that the IDF was "protecting you from mayhem."
Lander has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and made opposition to Israel a centerpiece of his congressional campaign.
Two days after Lander's detention, two Israeli soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack near Hebron in the West Bank.
OUR TAKE
With Election Day approaching, Lander's detention gave him exactly the footage he needed to solidify support among progressive voters in his district who prioritize opposition to Israel. This stunt is reminiscent of Rep. Ro Khanna's (D-CA) recent West Bank trip, during which he was detained by armed Israeli settlers for similar reasons.
When American politicians visit some of the world's most hotly contested and dangerous places without proper coordination, it’s no surprise they run into trouble. The Israelis, as should Americans, recognize these stunts for what they are, and have little patience for elected officials who treat crucial security protocols as optional in order to grab media attention.
