Israeli police conducted a raid on two prominent East Jerusalem bookshops, confiscating hundreds of books related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mahmoud Muna and his nephew Ahmad were arrested and charged with inciting terrorism, a charge later reduced to a public order offense. The raid has sparked international condemnation and protests, with critics accusing Israeli authorities of suppressing freedom of speech and Palestinian intellectual life.
Israel i police conducted a raid on two prominent East Jerusalem bookshops, The Educational Bookshops, on Sunday, resulting in the confiscation of hundreds of books dealing with the ongoing Israel i-Palestinian conflict. The police alleged that the bookshops were inciting terrorism, a charge later reduced to a public order offense. Mahmoud Muna, a Palestinian bookseller who studied in England, and his nephew Ahmad, were arrested and appeared in Jerusalem Magistrates Court on Monday.
They were subsequently detained for another 24 hours and will face five days of house arrest upon release. The prosecution sought to extend their detention for an additional eight days to allow for a thorough examination of the confiscated books, but the judge ruled that they should remain in prison only until Tuesday. Outside the courthouse, a small group of protesters gathered, holding signs that read 'cowards confiscate books' and 'Palestinian books matter'. Nasser Odeh, their lawyer, expressed concerns about the raid, characterizing it as a 'dangerous and legally unprecedented move' that aims to stifle freedom of speech and Palestinian intellectual life. He argued that it prevents individuals from educating themselves and others. The bookshops, including a third one at The American Colony Hotel, are esteemed cultural institutions in East Jerusalem, frequented by locals, diplomats, foreign journalists, and tourists. Murad Muna, Mahmoud's brother, asserted that there was 'no reason' for their arrest, pointing out that they sell international books, including those written by Israeli authors. Mahmoud's 11-year-old daughter, who was present in the shop during the raid, was understandably shaken but reassured by her mother. May Muna, Mahmoud's wife, conveyed to Sky News that they spoke with her daughter and assured her that everything would be alright. Germany's Ambassador to Israel publicly criticized the police actions, describing the Educational Bookshop as a place he and many diplomats enjoyed browsing for books. He stated that he knows the Muna family, the owners of the bookshop, to be peace-loving and open to intellectual exchange. In a statement, Jerusalem Police defended their actions, claiming that the two men were arrested for 'selling books containing incitement and support for terrorism'. They shared an image on X of a coloring book titled 'From The River To The Sea', a phrase that refers to the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, encompassing all of Israel. While many Israelis interpret it as an antisemitic call for the elimination of Israel, Palestinian activists view it as an aspiration for human rights and peaceful coexistence. This incident follows another raid on a Palestinian-owned bookstore in East Jerusalem last week. Most Palestinians reside in East Jerusalem, which Israel captured in 1967. Palestinians claim it as the capital of their future state, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes a two-state solution, receiving strong support from Donald Trump.In a recent controversial suggestion, Trump proposed the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to allow the US to 'own' and rebuild the region after the devastation caused by the Gaza war. This proposal has been widely condemned by the international community.
ISRAEL PALESTINE BOOKS FREEDOM OF SPEECH BOOK RAID JERUSALEM
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