The IDF Spokesperson addressed claims by the organization Rabbis for Human Rights that the IDF delayed approximately 80 American volunteers and activists who were accompanying Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest in the Bethlehem area, including New York congressional candidate Brad Lander, who was released with a warning. The IDF stated that 'given the security risk involved in conducting a harvest without prior coordination near an Israeli community, IDF forces, West Bank Border Police and Judea and Samaria District Police officers arrived at the location and detained those present. The landowner was informed that he must coordinate the harvest on the plot, and was provided with communication channels for coordinating the harvest going forward.'