Israeli police raided two popular bookstores in East Jerusalem, carted away dozens of books and detained two employees in a move they said was aimed at stopping incitement but which raised concerns about threats to Palestinian freedom of expression and Israel’s values.

Israeli police have raided a long-established Palestinian-owned bookstore in east Jerusalem, detaining the owners and confiscating books about the decades-long conflict.

Israeli police raided two Palestinian bookstores in occupied east Jerusalem on Sunday, confiscating books and arresting one of the owners and his nephew, according to their family members.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli police have raided a well-known Palestinian bookshop in East Jerusalem, accusing its owners of selling books that incited terrorism, including a children's colouring book entitled "From the Jordan to the Sea".

Israeli police raided the Educational Bookshop on Sunday and arrested its owners on charges of “disturbing public order,” a move met with outcry by diplomats.

Police say the men were arrested on suspicion of "selling books containing incitement and support for terrorism".

The lawyer for two Palestinian men arrested over books they were selling in their family store says they are being pursued for political reasons.

The police said the stores were selling books that supported terrorism and that two members of the family who owned the business had been arrested. A lawyer said their detention was “political” rather than legal.

The leading Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem was among those voicing outrage Monday in response to an Israeli police raid on a pair of renowned Palestinian-owned bookstores in illegally occupied East Jerusalem over the weekend.