London is home to some of the most beautiful bookshops in england and i get asked for recommendations for where to shop for books in london all the time. Today we received the email below from munther fahmi, the 57yearold bookseller born in jerusalem but stripped of his residency and threatened with deportation. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Despite highprofile connections, munther fahmi s days in the city of his birth may be numbered. Andrew bolt, munther fahmi andrew bolt, munther fahmi. Palestinian bookshop owner celebrates jerusalem residency ruling. Munther fahmi is getting a fair amount of attention because he is the proprietor of the bookshop at the famous american colony hotel in east jerusalem, but his experience mirrors that of thousands of lesserknown jerusalem palestinians whose daily lives are wrecked and culture eroded by israels judaisation policies on illegallyannexed land. Fahmi owner of the bookshop at the american colony hotel and raja. In a city riven by political and social tensions, mr fahmi s bookshop has provided an oasis of dialogue between palestinians and israelis, with wellknown writers and scholars. Authors defend threatened jlem palestinian bookseller munther fahmi s residency was revoked when he left to study in the united states, acquired citizenship.
London has no shortage of bookshops and following on from my post on the most beautiful bookshops in london, im bringing you twelve second hand bookshops in london that you need to visit i think i might actually prefer shopping for second hand books because each book comes with its own history and i like imagining who the previous owners were. Something different and something frightening from the. Munther fahmi is a wellknown figure in jerusalems diplomatic community and among the citys foreign press corps. Jerusalemborn munther fahmi s residency was voided by israel after he left in 1973 to study in the united states, where he acquired citizenship. Munther fahmi is the founder and manager of the american colony bookshop. The petition notes the importance of fahmi s bookstore as a meeting place for authors, diplomats, journalists and others. Munther fahmi british writers in support of palestine. We are signing this petition in support of munther fahmi s right to continue to live in east jerusalem and not be deported by israeli authorities. Amos oz, david grossman join east jerusalem bookshop owner. The following is a list of alleged and confirmed assassinations reported to have been.
He counts among his customers tony blair, kofi annan, jimmy carter and uma thurman. Among his customers are to be found tony blair, kofi annan, jimmy carter and hollywood actress uma thurman. Grampas attic and bookstore specializes in books new and used, nostalgic gifts, home decor accessories. In a city full of venerable institutions, munther fahmi s bookshop is as revered as any. Perhaps the most unusual of all londons bookshops, word on the water is housed in a 100year old dutch barge moored on regents canal in kings cross. I recomend this book and his other one called the ethnic cleansing of palestine.
At the back of the narrow, vaulted room, the bookseller sits at his desk, pencil in mouth, going through sale inventory. Palestinian book shop owner munther fahmi poses for a photograph in his shop in east jerusalem april 3, 2011. View the profiles of professionals named munther fahmi on linkedin. In addition to the injustice of this, the closure of the bookshop would impoverish the cultural life of jerusalem, and to.
Samer abdelnour is completing a phd in management at the london school. Munther fahmi is known as the bookseller of jerusalem. He then opened an englishlanguage bookshop in the courtyard of the american colony hotel in east jerusalem, which is now well known and considered one of the best bookshops in the middle east. In a city riven by political and social tensions, mr fahmi s bookshop has been a place for dialogue. The plight of munther fahmi, who was born in jerusalem in 1964, and who for two years faced the threat of deportation, excited the attention of local and foreign media, diplomats, israeli and. He lived there until 1986, when he returned to east jerusalem. Join facebook to connect with munther ahu sharar and others you may know. We are writing to you in support of the application of munther fahmi for his right to continue to live in east jerusalem and not be deported.
Munther fahmi, the proprietor of the small but wellstocked bookshop at the legendary american colony hotel, said he was overjoyed at the news. When i mentioned in an aside the other week that husband and i had been to melbournes high court to see andrew bolt get a hiding, i. Neslens book chronicles the palestinian gaza and the west bank experience under occupation through interviews and stories. Islamic books, muslim clothing, hijabs, digital qurans, cd and dvd, jewellery, gifts, attar, perfume, azan clock. Its owner munther fahmi has run the bookshop for years, but now faces deportation despite being born in jerusalem. For 16 years the hotel has been home to a renowned bookshop run by palestinian munther fahmi. Jerusalem bookseller a foreigner in homeland israeli officials have told munther fahmi that, after 16 years running his bookshop in the grounds of east jerusalems 19thcentury hotel the.
Many will find their way to the legendary hotels englishlanguage bookshop. Israeli authors join campaign to keep arab bookseller in. Arabic and middle eastern language and linguistics, middle east studies, area studies, language and linguistics. A fixture of jerusalem literary life, threatened with. As reported a week ago in haaretz, the bookshop owner, munther fahmi, who was born in east jerusalem, became subject to deportation after his status as. Authors pamuk, mcewan back bookseller facing israel. A visit to his small bookstore at the american colony hotel is a must for anyone seeking to immerse himself in the roots of the arabisraeli conflict. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover munther s. The bookshop owner, munther fahmi, born in east jerusalem, may be deported because he is not considered israeli resident after spending about 20 years living in. Munther fahmi, owner of the bookshop at the american colony hotel in jerusalem. Fahmi runs the bookshop at the american colony hotel, in jerusalem. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for.
These are exactly the circumstances of munther fahmi, the bookseller of jerusalem, who runs the famed american colony bookshop in the citys best hotel, the american colony. Munther fahmi was born in east jerusalem in 1955 and went to the u. Pending good behavior, authorities grant a bookseller. The documentary shot in jerusalem and its surrounding palestinian territories, describes the lack of freedom of movement in the area, through the relationship and the chatter between taxi drivers and their customers during the journeys from jerusalem to territories, and the attempts by the common people to overcome. Israelis defend threatened palestinian bookseller reuters. October 21, 1986, munther abu ghazaleh, highranked leader in the plo. It appears as if our good friend, conal urquhart, whos been doing a splendid job filling the ideological void in jerusalem left by harriet sherwoods twoweek absence see his reporting on a terrorist attack, militant attack, sudden explosion in jerusalem, here. Two months ago he exhausted his legal options when israels high court refused to overturn the decision to. Munther fahmi recording studio rg studios linkedin.
Jerusalem bookseller a foreigner in homeland the national. Israel steps up jerusalem expulsions dissident voice. Nor with foreign authors, a few of whom have been known. Great selection, although dont look like youre researching or browsing for too long. Munther fahmi, a palestinian, was born in jerusalem and lived there until. Authors speak out to save owner of jerusalem bookshop from. This haven for readers of the greatest importance to both israel and palestine. Munther fahmi is well dressed, in polished shoes and a tailored shirt rakishly open at the collar, but his weakness is books, and he is always. This weekend i was the guest of munther fahmi, who runs the excellent bookshop at the american colony hotel in east jerusalem, for a reading from my. The forest green shop on the fulham road is four storeys high and has more than 20,000 books and 6,000 prints and old maps. Israelis defend palestinian bookseller prominent authors, including david grossman and amos oz, join campaign against deportation of munther fahmi, whose east jerusalem business has become hub for diplomats, artists and. The lrb is europes leading magazine of books and ideas. Among his customers are to be found tony blair, kofi annan, jimmy carter and hollywood actress uma. Palestinian version, he died with books in his hand.
Munther fahmi, the proprietor of the small but wellstocked bookshop at. Israeli officials have told him that, after 16 years running his bookshop in the grounds of east jerusalems 19thcentury hotel the american colony, he is no longer welcome in israel. The guardian, a jerusalem bookshop, and norman finkelstein. A cyberfriend asked me earlier today, on twitter, for recommendations of bookshops she could visit on her first trip to london. The bookshop at the american colony hotel in jerusalem is known worldwide for being the best place to buy englishlanguage bookshops in israel or palestine. Munther fahmi is well dressed, in polished shoes and a tailored shirt rakishly open at the. At munther fahmi s small bookshop in east jerusalem, martina quick, political counselor at the swedish embassy to israel, peruses a copy of palestinian academic sari.
Munther fahmi has not always been popular with customers who pay the high prices at his bookshop in east jerusalems american colony hotel. The petition notes the importance of fahmis bookstore as a meeting. Authors defend threatened jerusalem palestinian bookseller. The deportation of a palestinian bookseller munthi fahmi. Leading israeli authors have joined a campaign against the deportation of a palestinian book shop owner, whose business in east jerusalem has become a hub for diplomats, artists and academics from.
Jerusalems bookseller to the stars facing deportation. A catalogue record for this book is available from the british library. Letters to the editor washington report on middle east. The first, coming by way of my friend munther fahmi, owner of the jerusalem book shop, is a book by arthur neslen, in your eyes a sandstorm. Happy ending for bookseller under deportation threat the. Palestinian bookshop owner celebrates jerusalem residency. Munther is the founder and owner of the bookshop at the american colony hotel in jerusalem, a cornerstone of cultural life in jerusalem. View munther fahmi s profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. Two items from or about the middle east caught my attention this week. There are 3 professionals named munther fahmi, who use linkedin to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Locate and compare book stores in london on, yellow pages local listings.