Charlie Hebdo Sales: Israel's Biggest Bookstore Chain, Steimatzky, Cancels Release Events For Magazine's Latest Issue After Complaints

Though Israeli book chain Steimatzky typically sells Charlie Hebdo in stores, it won't carry the survivors' issue of the satirical magazine. The oldest and largest bookstore chain in Israel canceled the in-store launch of Charlie Hebdo's latest issue after receiving complaints about its cover, which features a mocking cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad, the Jerusalem Post reported. It will take orders for Charlie Hebdo only through its website.

"Steimatzky decisively supports in freedom of expression," it said in a statement to Ynetnews. "The company has sold the magazine for years and will continue to do so. However, the firm has decided the sale of the specific issue will not occur at a special event in our store, but be held online starting Monday at 5 p.m."

The chain told media outlets it had not received any threats in response to its plans to hold a special event for the issue's debut, but the United Arab List released a statement warning it was "very dangerous" to do so. About 20 percent of Israel's population is Muslim.

“This is a very serious, dangerous and stupid step," leader Masud Gnaim wrote in a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "This is not freedom of expression, but a hard blow to the holiest of holies for Muslims that will bring about unrest and great anger among the Arabs and Muslims in the country and in the whole world, and no one can predict the results.”

Steimatzky's website will sell Charlie Hebdo until its stocks run out. The Times of Israel reported orders will be limited to two per person.

Meanwhile Saturday, protests in places like West Bank raged on. Thousands of Palestinians gathered to showcase their discontent over Charlie Hebdo, the Paris offices of which were attacked by two suspected Islamist extremists earlier this month. Twelve people were killed.