Israeli Police Raid Palestinian Bookshop in East Jerusalem for Second Time in a Month

Authorities detained the owner and seized books, citing allegations of incitement, despite prior criticism of police actions by the Israeli State Attorney.

• The Educational Bookshop, a family-run Palestinian bookstore in East Jerusalem, was raided by Israeli police for the second time in a month, with officers detaining owner Imad Muna and confiscating books.
• Police claimed the raid followed a complaint about books allegedly containing inciting content, though no charges have been filed, and most of the books were later returned.
• Titles by authors such as Noam Chomsky, Ilan Pappé, and Joe Sacco were among those seized, with police reportedly using Google Translate to review book covers for words like 'Palestine.'
• The February raid on the store, which led to arrests and criticism from the Israeli State Attorney, was deemed an overreach, with prosecutors warning police not to repeat such actions without proper legal procedures.
• The bookstore, a cultural hub in Jerusalem for over four decades, has faced growing concerns about freedom of speech and the targeting of Palestinian cultural institutions.

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