Knock, Knock! Where Is the U.S. Government?

Reuters reports that the Democratic nominee in New York’s 10th Congressional District, was detained by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank while accompanying Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest.

For years, human rights groups, religious organizations, and medical aid organizations have raised concerns about violence against Palestinians and international volunteers by Israeli settlers and security forces. What meaningful action has the U.S. government taken to address those concerns and protect American citizens? 

https://x.com/haaretzcom/status/2112871083305226316?s=20

Video credit: Thank you to Tamar Glazerman of @rabbis4HR for recording the incident as Israeli forces detained Brad Lander and dozens of other Western volunteers accompanying Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest.

Lander is a Democratic candidate. Does partisan politics influence how urgently Washington responds when an American citizen faces detention abroad? The public deserves to know.

Had an American citizen been detained while accompanying Israeli settlers, would Washington’s response have been equally restrained? Would the story have dominated the news?

Where was President Trump? Where was the State Department? Where was the U.S. Embassy? What consular assistance was offered to Lander?

An embassy is not a decorative building flying a national flag. Diplomacy is not merely smiling for photographs, issuing polished statements, and attending official receptions. Its responsibilities include protecting American citizens’ legitimate interests, providing consular assistance, and seeking urgent clarification when their rights are at stake.

American citizenship should mean something, regardless of whom a citizen chooses to stand beside.

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes about U.S. foreign policy, Middle Eastern affairs, and justice

Update from Brad Lander:  I’ve been released from IDF custody with a “warning,” apparently because of my public profile (I told them I wasn’t even a congressmember yet, just a nominee). But several dozen rabbis & participants harvesting olives with me are still in detention. For harvesting olives. They should all be released immediately. To be clear: Palestinians face far worse consequences every day. These detentions by the IDF are one more attempt to undermine Palestinians’ right to harvest their olive groves, travel on their roads, and live in their homes. Yet one more element of escalating, and very clearly state-sponsored ethnic cleansing. We’ll update on their status as soon as we hear.