By Tyler Durden
In other words, a brief detention in a disputed olive grove has turned into an Israel-vs-New-York-City diplomatic spat, two weeks before the midterms and six days before Israel votes.
"Released Once The Matter Was Brought To Our Attention"
According to NPR, which had a team on the ground in Nahalin, Israeli forces declared a closed military zone around an olive grove near the settlement of Beitar Illit and detained Lander along with about 80 American and Israeli rabbis and activists. Two Israeli lawyers told NPR it was the largest mass detention of activists in the West Bank in at least a decade. The IDF's explanation for letting only one of them go was refreshingly honest:
"Regarding reports of the detention of a congressional candidate, we note that he was released once the matter was brought to our attention."
Lander put it his own way: he said he was released "with a 'warning,' apparently because of my public profile (I told them I wasn't even a congressmember yet, just a nominee)." The rest of the group, from the Rabbis for Human Rights delegation, was still being held at a police station in Beitar Illit hours later, according to the Times of Israel.
About That Map...
Here is where it gets interesting. The IDF told CBS New York that "harvesting in this area requires a request to be submitted to the relevant authorities in advance," and Israel Police said the group had entered an area near the settlement fence that needed approval. Lander called it "a bald-face lie."