Release the Booksellers of Jerusalem: An Open Letter on Behalf of American Jewish leaders to release Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna from detention
We, American Jewish leaders who have dedicated our lives to the strength and flourishing of the Jewish people and to a safe and thriving Israel, write with deep concern over the recent detention of Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna, the well-known owners and operators of The Educational Bookshop in Jerusalem.
The Educational Bookshop has long been a gathering place for intellectual exchange, home to books spanning a wide range of perspectives. Nearly all of us have visited their shop over the years, not out of coercion or always political alignment, but because it is a space that invites conversation, deliberation and the free exchange of ideas. It represents to us, the best of Israel - that in a time of enduring conflict, indeed amidst the worst war in Israel’s history, there is a thriving modest bookshop that challenges conventional narratives about the country in which it is located. It is a proof text for Israeli democracy. The decision to detain its proprietors is deeply alarming, and we urge a reconsideration of these actions and encourage the Munas’ immediate release from house arrest.
The images of the raid on the bookshop by Israeli police hearken to a truly dark time in Jewish history. The books scattered on the floor, reportedly by officers using "Google Translate" to determine which books they found objectionable, evoke some of the most painful chapters in our collective memory. The Educational Bookshop is the epitome of non-violence. Many in our community consistently call for "non-violent" rather than violent resistance from Palestinians; some even assume—wrongly and dangerously—that all Palestinians conform to the horrific image of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists. And yet, when we have the perfect example of Palestinian intellectuals who graciously host Jews and Israeli leaders of all stripes, who will sit and engage in open discussion with anyone, we arrest them?
These are days of profound pain, as the horrors of October 7th continue to reverberate, and many of us are personally affected. The recent release of emaciated and tortured hostages, paraded before jeering armed terrorists, is a stark reminder never to underestimate our enemies or their relentless thirst for our suffering. That is why we are deeply concerned about the house arrest of Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna, the owners of The Educational Bookshop in Jerusalem, and urge their immediate release—not because we fail to grasp the threats Israel faces, but because we understand them all too well. They are not terrorists, our enemies, or a threat to Israel or its people.
Actions such as those taken at the bookstore will not enhance security; they will only fuel extremism and solidify the perception among ordinary people around the world that Israelis cannot be reasoned with—that we are so brutal we cannot even tolerate the sale of books that challenge our points of view.
Our concerns do not stem from detachment but from deep connection, a sense of peoplehood and shared destiny. We care about Israel’s long-term security, its democratic character and its standing in the world. The free exchange of ideas—particularly through books—has always been a cornerstone of both Jewish tradition and Israel’s democratic character. Israel’s National Library, just a short distance away from The Educational Bookshop, stands as a magnificent testament to this principle. The arrest of booksellers in the heart of Jerusalem raises difficult questions about the implications for civil society and the marketplace of ideas.
We recognize the complex challenges facing Israel’s security and governance, and we support efforts to ensure safety and order. This is not the way. The detention of these individuals sends a troubling signal and risks undermining values that have long been a source of Israel’s - and the Jewish people’s - strength. We urge Israeli authorities to release Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna from house arrest without delay.
*Organizational affiliation for identity purposes only.
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