Lebanon to Israel: Hands Off Our Falafel Balls
By Daniel Treiman
From DPA via Ha’aretz’s Web site:
The president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association Fadi Abboud, said he is preparing to file an international lawsuit against Israel for allegedly “taking the identity of some Lebanese foods” and thus violating a food copyright.
“In a way the Jewish state is trying to claim ownership of traditional Lebanese delicacies like falafel, tabouleh and hummus” Abboud said.
According to Abboud, the Lebanese are losing “tens of millions of dollars annually” because Israel is selling and marketing traditional Lebanese dishes.
“The Israelis are marketing our main food dishes as if they were Israeli dishes,” he charged.
Though it might be tempting, one should not dismiss Abboud’s threats as mere bluster. He’s serious, and he’s citing legal precedent — the “feta cheese precedent.” (I kid you not.)
And while we’re on the topic of lawsuits, I wonder what ever happened with that Egyptian fellow who was threatening to sue the Jewish people for making off with Egypt’s gold during the Exodus. I, for one, have yet to be served with papers.
Advertisements
Advertisements
C'mon, we all know the real reason Abboud is doing this: to cut into video sales of Don't Mess With the Zohan.
OK, let him prove that the Lebanese Arabs and not the Jews of Lebanon and elsewhere invented the falafel and Hummus? If this is successful couldn't someone sue the US for marketing the sandwich or the Hamburger as an American food? Me thinks it's a tempest in a tiny Lebanese coffee cup.
If this didn't reflect the genuine hatred of all things Israel- and Jewish-related, it would simply be hilarious. Is changing "latkes" to "pancakes" next?
The Forward welcomes reader comments in order to promote thoughtful discussion on issues of importance to the Jewish community. In the interest of maintaining a civil forum, the Forward requires that all commenters be appropriately respectful toward our writers, other commenters and the subjects of the articles. Vigorous debate and reasoned critique are welcome; name-calling and personal invective are not. While we generally do not seek to edit or actively moderate comments, the Forward reserves the right to remove comments for any reason.