(Adnkronos) – Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lener was stopped and detained by the Idf in the West Bank while participating with dozens of other volunteers from the “Rabbis for Human Rights” group on a mission to support the olive harvest of Palestinians near Nehalim. “I was detained by the Idf, along with a group of rabbis and volunteers,” the New York Democrat, a political ally of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, wrote on X, explaining that he was later “released after being cautioned, perhaps due to my public profile.”
“But several dozen rabbis and olive harvest participants are still detained – Lander’s post, who is Jewish, continues – they must be released immediately. To be clear, Palestinians face much worse consequences every day. These detentions by the Idf are another attempt to undermine the right of Palestinians to harvest olives, travel on their roads, live in their homes. Another element of escalation and clear state-sponsored ethnic cleansing.”
On social media, the Democrat also published photos and videos showing him on board the bus where he and the other dozens of volunteers were made to board by Israeli soldiers. “The occupation is a crime under international law, harvesting olives is not a crime under any law I know,” added the former administrative director of New York City, now a candidate in New York’s 10th district, considered a Democratic stronghold.
