image sourced from original article at The first Palestinian bookstore in the United States opened in Los Angeles over the weekend, marking what organizers describe as a 'cultural act of resistance.' Watermelon Books LA, located inside the Holy Ground community gathering space, offers around 1,000 titles covering art, food, poetry, history, fiction, and political writing focused on Palestine. The store follows an existing branch in Amman, Jordan.
In addition to books, the space features tatreez embroidery, traditional crafts, and artwork by contemporary Palestinian artists, with proceeds intended to directly support Palestinian creators. Later this month, the store will host an inaugural reading and discussion titled 'Literature During Genocide' featuring authors Randa Jarrar and Nancy Kricorian.
Some of the titles available at the store have drawn criticism for promoting anti-Israel narratives and for challenging the historical foundations of Jewish nationhood. Featured works include controversial historical analyses, writings by Ghassan Kanafani, and books by authors such as Richard Falk, Sim Kern, Norman Finkelstein, Ilan Pappé, Benny Morris, Jeff Halper, and Shlomo Sand. Critics argue that several of the books deny Jewish historical ties to the land and contain antisemitic themes.
