Israeli police have raided a long-established Palestinian-owned bookstore in east Jerusalem, detaining the owners and confiscating hundreds of books about the conflict. The police claimed the books incite violence.
The Educational Bookshop, established over 40 years ago, is a hub of intellectual life in east Jerusalem. However, on Sunday, police detained the owners, Ahmed and Mahmoud Muna, and confiscated books related to the conflict. The police ordered the store’s closure, citing concerns that the books with Palestinian titles or flags incited violence.
The bookstore hosts cultural events and is popular among researchers, journalists, and foreign diplomats. Despite this, the police claimed that the books contained “incitement and support for terrorism.”
The Muna brothers were arrested on suspicion of selling such books. In court, a judge denied their appeal, and they will remain in custody as police carry out further investigations.
Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have soared since Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Gaza, which killed over 1,200 civilians and displaced hundreds more. The conflict has led to the release of Israeli hostages and the abduction of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 war and annexed it to its capital, a move not recognized internationally. Palestinians want the city to be their future state’s capital. The bookstore’s closure is seen as another attempt by Israel to suppress Palestinian voices and narratives.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-police-jerusalem-bookstore-raid-rights-af721d98f55ec3103c2f90cf6013263f