Jerusalem: Libraries continue to be targeted... Owner of the Gateway bookstore released, deported from work
Israeli intelligence released Anton Sabella, owner of the Gateway Café and Bookstore in the Old City of Jerusalem, on Wednesday afternoon, after arresting him. He was released on condition of deportation from his workplace for two weeks.
The forces raided the bookstore, arrested Sabella, and took him to the Al-Qishla Police Station in the Old City of Jerusalem. During the raid, they searched the bookstore and confiscated several books, claiming they contained "incitement content."
This raid on the Gateway Bookstore was not the first in the context of the fight against words and images. On February 2, Israeli forces raided the Al-Quds bookstore in the Khan al-Zeit market in the Old City of Jerusalem, searched and vandalized its contents, before arresting its owner and closing the shop for 30 days, posting a closure notice on its door.
On February 9, Israeli occupation forces raided the Scientific Bookstore branches in Jerusalem, searching books, offices, and a warehouse, and arresting two of its owners. In March, forces raided the Scientific Bookstore again and arrested its owner.
Each time, the Israeli police justified these arrests and raids by claiming that the bookstores sell books "containing incitement content."
