Business · World News Bureau
US Politician Among 80 Detained During West Bank Protest
New York City Council Member Brad Lander was among approximately 80 Israelis and Americans detained by Israeli security forces during a demonstration in the West Bank. The detentions occurred during what participants described as a protest against Israeli settlement policies in the Palestinian territory.
LSN World News ·
Brad Lander, a Democratic politician serving on New York City's Council, was held along with dozens of other Israeli and American activists in the West Bank on Wednesday. The group was detained by Israeli security personnel during a demonstration in the disputed territory, according to reports from those present at the scene.
The detentions marked an escalation in tensions surrounding Israeli settlement activities and Palestinian land rights. Lander's presence among the detainees underscored growing involvement by American political figures in activism related to Israeli-Palestinian issues, particularly concerning settlements that much of the international community considers illegal under international law.
Israeli authorities did not immediately provide a formal statement regarding the nature of the detention or the specific charges, if any, against those held. The Americans in the group were expected to be processed and potentially released, though the status of Israeli participants remained unclear.
The incident reflects broader political divisions within Israel and the United States over settlement expansion in the West Bank, an issue that continues to complicate peace efforts and diplomatic relations in the region.
Photo: Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander speaks at a rally in Manhattan, March 2026. Tessa Bury via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).