Translated From WAFA, Article by Bilal Gheith Kiswani: Over 38 years ago, the Scientific Library was established on Salahuddin Street in occupied Jerusalem, in the West bank. Over the years, it became one of the most significant libraries in Palestine, particularly in Jerusalem, attracting diplomats, journalists, researchers, and students.
In 2011, the Scientific Library won the award for Best Library in Palestine and was recognized as the third-best library in the Middle East by “Lonely Planet” and the BBC in London.
This prestigious status and the vast collection of books and references in multiple languages about Palestine and Jerusalem did not sit well with the Israeli occupation, which targets everything Arab and Palestinian in the holy city.
The occupation forces shuttered the library and abducted its owners, Mahmoud and Ahmad Mona, under the pretext of selling books that contain “incitement.”
Prior to closing the Scientific Library, the occupation authorities had shut down two other libraries in the Old City of Jerusalem earlier this month, revealing a colonial scheme targeting thought, culture, and literature in Jerusalem.
Previously, the Israeli police invaded two libraries on Khan Al-Zeit Street within the Old City’s walls, abducted Hisham Al-Ikrimawi, the owner of the Jerusalem Library, for several days, and shut down his library for a month under the pretext of selling “inciting” books. They also imposed heavy fines on another library owner in the Old City under flimsy excuses.
Nasser Odah, the lawyer representing the owners of the Scientific Library in Jerusalem, stated in a press release following the trial of the Mona brothers that the occupation police stormed the library on Salahuddin Street Sunday afternoon after obtaining a search warrant from the so-called “Magistrate’s Court,” alleging that it contained books “inciting terrorism and violence.” The police abducted the Mona brothers and requested the court extend their detention for eight days.
Odah noted that this was unprecedented, as, two weeks ago, the occupation authorities issued an administrative closure order for a library in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Several European diplomats attended the “trial session” of the Mona brothers. The French consulate stated in a post that “attacks on a prestigious library and cultural institution in Jerusalem constitute a blatant violation of freedom of expression and fundamental democratic values,” calling for the immediate release of the brothers.
Palestinian writer Dima As-Samman said that the closure of libraries falls within the Israeli plans to stifle knowledge, silence voices, and erase anything related to Palestinian national culture.
She noted that the occupation seized any book with any form of Palestinian nationalism in the Scientific Library.
She added that even “Israeli newspapers, which have some relatively objective articles like Haaretz, are targeted. This is not surprising from a racist state that follows a policy of ignorance and targets everything related to Palestinian nationalism in Jerusalem.”
As-Samman explained that Palestinian curricula have been fought under the pretext of “incitement” for years, and now libraries are accused of incitement.
This is part of the occupation’s plans to prevent anything Palestinian, within a studied and consistent scheme, aiming to eventually empty Jerusalem of everything Palestinian.
Culture and education are twins related to mind, awareness, belonging, and thinking, which Israel tries to control and manipulate to pass its forged narrative that serves its colonial agenda.
Similarly, Palestinian writer Jamil As-Salhout stated that the entity claiming to be “the only democracy in the Middle East” fears books and culture, questioning, “Why is there such fear of culture? This is oppression of freedom, and freedom of opinion and expression.”
He added that the current Israeli government opposes everything humane, including culture and human life, within the mad policy of this government. “The occupation knows that while it may achieve military victory, it cannot win culturally.”
He affirmed that Arab culture in Jerusalem is not threatened by the occupation, stating, “We are heirs to an ancient civilization stretching through history, and military force cannot succeed in striking Palestinian culture in Jerusalem.”
Palestinian author and intellectual Rasim Obeidat mentioned that the aggression did not stop at attacking the Palestinian curriculum; it goes beyond that to target Palestinian culture, narrative, and identity in Jerusalem.
He clarified that the current war on libraries and their closure comes under the pretexts of selling books related to Palestinian history and identity, claiming they are inciting. This war is escalating against all libraries.
Obeidat added that the Scientific Library sells many international scientific books. The seizure of several books, even those with the Palestinian flag on their cover, falls within the comprehensive war targeting the Palestinian people. Cultural institutions are also targeted, such as repeated assaults on the Yabous Cultural Centre under the pretext of incitement.
He pointed out that the occupation fights any Palestinian symbol in Jerusalem. Commercial shops are targeted under the pretext of having Palestinian symbols, part of a futile attempt to alter Palestinian awareness and target Palestinian culture, narrative, and existence in Jerusalem.
“This falls under the attempts to reshape Palestinian awareness and target Palestinian culture, narrative, existence, and history. It is a desperate attempt by the occupation to erase the Palestinian narrative and claim that the indigenous Jerusalemites are outsiders. This will not happen.” Obeidat added.
Obaidat confirmed that our people will not comply with the orders of the occupation, which seeks to create a state of fear about reading and carrying the books of the late poet Mahmoud Darwish and others who spoke about the history of Palestine and the Zionist war on our people. “We must form committees to preserve Palestinian identity and culture through social media platforms and in the general public reality in Jerusalem,” he concluded.
