Hummus for Peace: Israeli Restaurant Offers 50% Discount for Jews and Arabs who Eat Together

“If there’s anything that can bring together these peoples, it’s hummus,” says  Kobi Tzafrir, the owner of Hummus Bar, an Israeli restaurant that is offering discounted prices to tables where Jews and Arabs share food, "I heard and saw many cruel and harsh things from both Arabs and Jews in these difficult circumstances, and I saw the stress and tension. But I believe that we must live together." And in a bid to encourage coexistence, he has tried to turn hummus and the dinner table into common ground.

“Scared of Arabs? Scared of Jews? With us there are no Arabs, but also no Jews. With us there are people! And genuine excellent Arabic hummus! And Jewish, excellent praiseworthy falafel with free refill on every hummus, whether you’re Arabs, Jews, Christians or Indians. Special bargain: 50% discount on hummus to a table where Arabs and Jews sit together,” they said in a Facebook post.

In the face of escalating violence between Palestinians and Israelis, the restaurant located in Kfar Vitkin, a small town about a half hour north of Tel Aviv, is using their common love of the chickpeas paste to promote peace and understanding.  

According to Tzafrir, the trend has been consistent since the announcement was posted on Facebook on October 13. He said the idea’s been well received by Arabs and Jews alike, as well as people online from as far as Japan, he told the Times of Israel.

As their story went viral, Tzafrir published this post on Facebook, encouraging other restaurant managers across the world, to imitate the initiative in an effort to promote peace in the Middle East.

Main image courtesy of nitzang.com