A congressional candidate was detained by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. Now, Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) is calling on his colleagues in Congress for backup.
Earlier this week, Congressional nominee for New York’s 10th District Brad Lander (D-NY) posted on social media that he and a group of rabbis and volunteers had been detained by the IDF while harvesting olives with Palestinian farmers.
“We were simply harvesting olives in a grove near Nahalin in the West Bank,” Lander said. “The occupation is a crime under international law. Harvesting olives isn’t a crime under any law I know.”
Lander, who has been critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the West Bank throughout his campaign, said later on that he has been released.
"But several dozen rabbis & participants harvesting olives with me are still in detention," he said. "For harvesting olives. They should all be released immediately."
The IDF said in a statement that harvesting in this area requires a request to be submitted to the “relevant authorities” in advance of harvest season.
“This coordination is necessary to ensure the security of the area and maintain public order,” the IDF said.
But Rep. Castro said this incident is much bigger than what happened to Lander and the other volunteers.
“Days earlier, settlers attacked European diplomats and a Washington Post journalist,” Rep. Castro said, referring to photojournalist Heidi Levine who was attacked while reporting on settler violence against Palestinian olive pickers.
Rep. Castro added, “If American public servants, diplomats and journalists are targeted, imagine what Palestinian families face every day.”
Rep. Castro has led various efforts amongst House Democrats to pushback on U.S. support to Israel, the latest being through his Stop the Settlements Act.
“Congress should take up my bill, the Stop the Settlements Act, to impose sanctions on anyone driving settlements in the West Bank or Gaza, including construction companies and banks.
The bill, introduced earlier this month, is backed by nearly 60 members of Congress so far.
"Count on one more co-sponsor for the Stop the Settlements Act in January," Lander said.
