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Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
France: 'From the River to the Sea' colouring book sparks far-right fury
A children's colouring book on the history and culture of Palestine is at the centre of a debate about the representation of Palestinians and pro-Palestine advocacy in France. Originally published in English, From the River to Sea by South African author and illustrator Nathi Ngubane was in the summer window display of the Violette and Co bookstore in Paris, alongside titles addressing themes of racism, colonialism and the Palestinian cause. This display triggered what the bookstore described as "intimidation, harassment, cyberbullying, defacement, and threats from the far right", starting in July. In a post on Instagram dated 11 August, Violette and Co, which identifies as a feminist and LGBTQIA+ space, detailed the graffiti on its storefront reading 'Islamocomplice' and 'Hamas rapist', "hateful, LGBT-phobic, sexist, and racist comments", as well as death threats. "A group of five people came to the bookstore to intimidate us," the statement continued, adding that right-wing media outlets in the country fuelled a "disinformation campaign" regarding the shop. From the River to the Sea was singled out by the media, politicians and social media users alike. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters French channel CNews decried the book as "teaching kids to hate Israel", while Europe 1 labelled its title a "Hamas slogan". The title is based on the decades-old chant "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", widely used by pro-Palestinian campaigners. It refers to liberating the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea in historic Palestine. Propagande du Hamas… en coloriage pour enfants ? Vendu dans le 11eme chez Les Violette and CO. Un livre intitulé 'From the River to the Sea' est en vente. Et il est destiné aux plus jeunes. ➡️ Ce n'est pas un ouvrage d'analyse. C'est un album de coloriage. 🤔 ⬇️ — Jugé Coupable (@JCoupable) August 7, 2025 Translation: Hamas propaganda… in a colouring book for kids? Being sold in the 11th arrondissement at Les Violettes and Co. A book titled "From the River to the Sea" is on sale. And it's aimed at young children. This isn't a political analysis. It's a colouring book. Supporters of Israel claim it implies the destruction of the country. French MP Aurelien Veron joined the chorus, calling it an "appeal to the destruction of Israel", while MP Nelly Garnier and Isabelle Nizard, deputy mayor of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, called for the withdrawal of government subsidies granted to Violette and Co. Amid the backlash, some elected officials voiced their support for the bookstore, with Paris's deputy mayor, Jean-Luc Romero-Michel, posting on X: "Full support to the Violette and Co bookstore, which is currently facing a campaign of intimidation and harassement for placing a colouring book on Palestine in its window." Online, supporters defended the bookstore and the colouring book against attempts at "censorship". Many stated that the right-wing backlash was misplaced amid Israel's ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Soutien à la librairie Violette and Co qui subit des menaces et intimidations depuis quelques jours, en plus d'essuyer des insultes lesbophobes sur les réseaux sociaux. Ces obscurantistes qui sont plus dérangés par une librairie que par un génocide sont répugnants. — Marion Beauvalet (@MarionBeauvalet) August 12, 2025 Translation: Standing with the Violette and Co bookstore, which has been facing threats and intimidation for several days now, along with a flood of lesbophobic abuse on social media. The fact that these reactionary bigots are more outraged by a bookstore than by a genocide is nothing short of disgusting. "Certain struggles, particularly the Palestinian cause, unfortunately expose one to many aggressions and attempts at intimidation and censorship," said Turkish-Israeli-French historian Esther Benbassa in a solidarity message about Violette and Co. One commenter on Instagram said: "People are more offended by a colouring book than by genocide." The backlash also appeared to introduce the book and shop to new and curious readers. "The only good thing about this kind of rage-tweet is that they make you discover lots of people and initiatives," posted journalist Sihame Assbague on X. "If this pisses off the Zionists, then you should go buy this colouring book," said another user. 'Hysterical reaction' Violette and Co, which champions feminist and anti-colonial literature, stated it sought to promote diverse narratives through its display in an effort to counteract "homonationalist and femonationalist" political discourse. "We salute Violette and Co for continuing to elevate Palestinian narratives and for remaining steadfast," said Ngubane, the author and illustrator of the colouring book, in a statement. "The hysterical reaction from the French right wing shows Zionism for what it is: an ideology based on intimidation and supremacy," added the book's publisher, Social Bandit. The book covers key moments such as the Nakba - the ethnic cleansing of around 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland to make way for the creation of Israel - the ongoing Israeli occupation and Palestinian resistance movements. This isn't the first time From the River to the Sea has faced backlash from pro-Israeli groups. In June 2024, South Africa's biggest bookstore chain pulled the book from sales, sparking protest online.
Middle East Eye
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
'Threatened by books?': Hundreds condemn Israel's arrest of Palestinian bookshop owners
Thousands have taken to social media this week to condemn Israel after its authorities arrested the Palestinian owners of a historic occupied East Jerusalem bookshop for "inciting terrorism" with Palestinian literature, using a children's colouring book as proposed evidence. Educational Bookshop is a decades-old bookstore chain respected by locals and internationals alike, with both Arabic and English-language locations. The Muna family have become well-known figures in the local Palestinian community and with diplomats, academics and writers who have visited occupied East Jerusalem. On Sunday, Israeli plain-clothed agents raided two of its three branches. Witnesses told Middle East Eye that the agents entered around 3pm as if they were regular customers. After five minutes, they suddenly produced a search warrant and ordered customers to leave. After about 90 minutes, the Israelis left after detaining the shops' owners, Mahmoud Muna and his nephew Ahmad. Both have been taken into custody. Many of their books were taken away with them. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Witnesses said the Munas were told they were accused of 'disorderly conduct'. However, MEE has been told that the search warrants specified "terrorist" offences. The official X account of the Israeli police posted a picture of a children's colouring book, titled From the River to the Sea, as supposed evidence of the bookshop containing material "containing incitement and support for terrorism". שוטרי מחוז ירושלים עצרו שני תושבי מזרח העיר שלפי החשד מכרו ספרים המכילים תכני הסתה ותמיכה בטרור בחנויות ספרים, ובהם חוברת צביעה לילדים "מהירדן לים" — משטרת ישראל (@IL_police) February 10, 2025 South African author and illustrator of the colouring book, Nathi Ngubane, told MEE that he is concerned his work is being used by the Israeli authorities to censor Palestinians. "Our book's purpose was to educate children in South Africa and beyond about Palestine, apartheid, and Palestine's universal struggle for freedom. There is no content that incites hate or violence - only lessons in empathy and justice." This is not the first time Ngubane's book, published by Social Bandit Media, has made headlines for its Palestinian advocacy. Last year, the children's book was pulled from a prominent South African bookstore chain after the South African Jewish Board of Deputies called for the "immediate cessation" of its publication because it "indoctrinates children". Pages from, 'From the River to the Sea: A Colouring Book', illustrated by South African-based artist Nathi Ngubane (Social Bandit Media) Ngubane says he believes the book - which sold over 13,000 copies in South Africa with all proceeds going to Gaza - is deemed "dangerous" by authorities in Israel and pro-Israel citizens in South Africa mainly because of the slogan that is used for the title. Many Israelis and supporters of Israel say the phrase "From the River to the Sea" effectively calls for genocide and implies the destruction of Israel. For Palestinians and pro-Palestine demonstrators, the slogan refers to liberating the territory that exists between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea in historic Palestine. "It's absurd that a children's colouring book can lead to detention, while world leaders like Donald Trump openly advocate ethnic cleansing by suggesting Palestinians be displaced from their land - statements that are met with praise from the Israeli government," Ngubane said. 'No red lines' Locals, writers and diplomats have come out in droves on social media to condemn the raid of the shops and the arrests of the Muna family, calling for their immediate release. Author Matthew Teller recently teamed with Mahmoud to release the book, Daybreak in Gaza: Stories of Palestinian Lives and Culture. He took to his account on X to release a statement on his colleague's arrest. "The world has seen the nature of regimes that arrest and imprison booksellers before," he wrote. "I am proud to call Mahmoud and Ahmad friends. I have nothing but respect and admiration for the work they do in preserving, promoting and championing Palestinian literary culture in Jerusalem." Another author, Brendan Browne, said he was proud that his book "sits on [the] hollowed shelves" of Educational Bookshop. All solidarity with the Muna family... I'm proud that my book sits on their hallowed shelves. Their bookshop is an oasis, a site of incredible learning, of people getting together to critique and think. No doubt that's exactly why they were targeted by the Israeli forces. — Brendan Ciarán Browne (@brendancbrowne) February 10, 2025 Diplomats from Palestine and abroad have expressed concern about the raids and arrests and the intention behind them. "The ongoing campaign to censor knowledge, stifle free speech and information that challenges Israel's occupation of Palestine," Palestinian diplomat Husam Zomlot wrote on X. "Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of all just societies. There is no genuine peace without the freedom to read, and no freedom to read without booksellers able to carry out their work in safety." Steffen Seibert, the ambassador of Germany to Israel, made a public statement as well, saying that he knows the "peace-loving" and "proud" Muna family. I, like many diplomats, enjoy browsing for books at Educational Bookshop. I know its owners, the Muna family, to be peace-loving proud Palestinian Jerusalemites, open for discussion and intellectual exchange. I am concerned to hear of the raid and their detention in prison. — Steffen Seibert (@GerAmbTLV) February 10, 2025 Sami Abou Shahadeh, the head of the left-wing Palestinian party in Israel, Balad, said the detention of Mahmoud and Ahmad "shows how afraid illegitimate regimes, such as the Israeli occupation, have of culture and education". "Why is it that Israel feels so threatened by books? We may be entering a new stage of oppression, with Netanyahu and his people feeling that they have no red lines," he posted on X. As most expressed shock at the raid and subsequent arrests, many also pointed back to Gaza, where countless historic sites and many universities have been destroyed. "People are surprised that Palestinan book stores were raided in East Jerusalem? Did they not see what happened to universities, mosques and hospitals in Gaza? Or to the people?" one social media user wrote on X. Since the arrests, the Education Bookshop shops have been filled with locals showing solidarity with the Muna family. The Educational Bookshop in East Jerusalem is full with shoppers in solidarity a day after the Israel Police raided the Palestinian store, arrested its owners and confiscated books. They dropped the charges of incitement but still detain them for 'disturbing the public order' — David Issacharoff (@davidiss) February 10, 2025 Many have called for locals to take action on the ground, including UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese. "Internationals in Jerusalem: please show up, stand with the Muna family, and protect this vital hub. Don't leave them alone!" she posted on X. "We call for their immediate release," author Ngubane told MEE. "Palestinian voices and stories deserve to be heard globally, and efforts to silence them will only be met with solidarity," he added.
