Diaspora & World Nahalin
Israel detains about 80 olive-harvest volunteers, including a US congressional candidate
Thirty-three of those held were US citizens. Most were released the same day; four activists were to be deported for what Israel called anti-Israel activity.
Israeli forces detained US congressional candidate Brad Lander and about 80 American and Israeli rabbis and activists helping farmers near Nahalin, the largest such detention in a decade, lawyers said.
Forces declared a closed military zone near Nahalin, close to the Beitar Illit settlement, and took the volunteers to a police station, NPR reported.
The army said harvesting in the area required prior coordination, which Palestinians had not requested. Israel's foreign ministry called Lander's visit a political stunt.
The New Israel Fund said about 90 volunteers from its Protect the Harvest initiative had been released by Wednesday night. The Times of Israel reported four would be deported.
The US State Department said it was tracking the situation.
Numberslayer 1
Source: NPR via KPBS
Voiceslayer 2
There's no obligation to coordinate with the Israeli militaryBrad Lander, former New York City comptroller, congressional candidate · NPR via KPBS
For three years we have not harvested any olives.Fahimeh, Palestinian farmer, 77 · NPR via KPBS
Sources
- NPR via KPBS, 21 Oct 2026
Every figure and quote above links to where it was published. Something wrong? Corrections.
