The Israeli police conducted raids on two Palestinian bookstores in East Jerusalem, resulting in the arrest of their owners and the confiscation of books. This action aligns with Israel's increasing restrictions on free speech and cultural activities for Palestinians in the region.
On Monday, police confirmed the arrests of brothers Mahmood Muna and Ahmed Muna, which followed the raids on Sunday. Authorities claimed that the bookstores were selling materials that supported terrorism, including a children's coloring book titled “From the Jordan to the Sea.”
The phrase “from the river to the sea” is a long-standing slogan for Palestinian nationalism, often interpreted by Israelis as a denial of their country's right to exist. Details regarding the specific titles targeted during the raid have not been disclosed.
Murad Muna, another brother of the detained owners, contested the accusations, asserting that the stores did not sell books promoting violence. He described the raid as a form of “political persecution aimed at silencing our voice in the public sphere.”
Germany’s ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, expressed support for the Muna brothers, characterizing them as “peace-loving, proud Palestinian Jerusalemites, open to discussion and intellectual exchange.”
Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, there has been a notable increase in the arrests of Palestinian citizens on charges of incitement to terror, particularly concerning social media activities. Additionally, authorities have curtailed film screenings that critique the Israeli military or government in cities like Haifa and Jaffa.
The Educational Bookshop, which operates the two raided stores, is located in East Jerusalem, an area captured by Israel in 1967 and subsequently annexed. While Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its undivided capital, the majority of East Jerusalem residents are Palestinians, and the United Nations regards the area as occupied territory.
On Monday morning, a protest took place outside a court in Jerusalem where the detention of the two brothers was being reviewed. Their attorney, Nasser Oday, indicated that the men would remain in custody until Tuesday morning and would then be placed under house arrest for five days pending further investigation.
Mai Muna, the wife of Mahmood Muna, recounted that police entered the bookstores around 3 p.m. on Sunday, reportedly throwing books off the shelves and searching for items featuring the Palestinian flag.
The two bookstores, along with a café, have been vital to Palestinian cultural and educational life in East Jerusalem for decades, fostering both local and international engagement through discussions and film screenings.