Israeli Police Raid Largest Palestinian Bookstore in East Jerusalem, Arresting Owners
The Arrests Spark International Outcry as Palestinian Intellectuals and Activists Condemn Crackdown
댓글 0
기사입력 : 2025.02.13 06:30
Israeli police raided the Educational Bookshop, the largest Palestinian bookstore in occupied East Jerusalem, on Sunday, arresting its owners Mahmoud Muna (41) and his nephew Ahmed Muna (33) on charges of "disturbing public order." The raid has been condemned by activist organizations and intellectuals, who accuse Israeli authorities of trying to instill a "culture of fear" among Palestinians.
During the raid, which targeted two branches of the store, Israeli officers allegedly used Google Translate to assess the content of books. The authorities cited a children's picture book as evidence of "incitement to terrorism," though video footage revealed officers filling black garbage bags with Palestinian-themed books, including materials with Palestinian symbols and flags. Even copies of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz were confiscated.
Morad Muna, the brother of Mahmoud, claimed that police were indiscriminately seizing books that contained Palestinian imagery, underlining the oppressive nature of the raid. "They want to scare us, but we choose to respond by opening our stores," he said, emphasizing the resilience of the Muna family in the face of the crackdown.
The arrests sparked international condemnation, with diplomats from nine countries, including Germany, the UK, and Brazil, attending the trial of the two men on Monday. German Ambassador to Israel, Stephen Seibert, expressed his concerns, calling the Muna family "peace-loving, proud Palestinian Jerusalemites, open to dialogue and spiritual exchange."
Palestinian rights group B'Tselem labeled the arrests as part of a broader systematic effort by Israel to suppress Palestinian intellectuals, urging Israel to cease its campaign of persecution.
Despite the heavy-handed action, the Educational Bookshop, a cultural cornerstone of Jerusalem for over four decades, reopened shortly after the raid. It continues to host cultural events and offer a wide range of books, many of which explore Palestinian, Israeli, and international perspectives.
ⓒ 저널인뉴스 - jink & jinkorea.kr 무단전재-재배포금지