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.
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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.
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.
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.
