Published: 17 November 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Petition claims Israel is appropriating Palestinian cuisine and trying to erase it from the culinary world; signatories include high-profile chefs, critics and owners.
"Hummus diplomacy" continues to escalate. After the call to boycott restaurants that expressed support for Israel and the vandalism of some of them, over 900 chefs, restaurateurs and leading food industry figures in North America signed a petition calling for a boycott of restaurants and Israeli food in protest of the attacks in Gaza.
The petition, Hospitality for Humanity, calls for a boycott of food businesses from Israel and culinary events that promote Israel as leverage for a cease-fire. Beyond the usual claims of "apartheid" and "genocide," the signatories claim that Israel is also appropriating Palestinian cuisine and trying to erase it from the culinary world, just as it supposedly tries to erase the Palestinian people.
Among the signatories are several notable Jewish names, such as The New Yorker food reporter Helen Rosner, and the activist chef - and one of the initiators of the petition - Ora Wise, as well as several owners of Jewish delicatessens throughout the country.
Also on the list are cookbook author and former New York Times food columnist Samin Nosrat, as well as host of the Netflix food docu-series "High on the Hog," Stephen Satterfield. Also on the list is the person who is considered to be the "face of Palestinian cuisine" in America, cookbook author and reporter for the New York Times and Washington Post Reem Kassis.
Kassis, previously worked closely with Israeli chef Michael Solomonov, whose brother was killed in a clash with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2003. According to reports, since October 7 the two have severed their relationship. The list of signatories include prominent chefs such as Mason Harford from the legendary New Orleans sandwich institution Turkey and the Wolf, and vegan celebrity chef Bryant Terry.
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Antisemitism and food don't mix: Chefs have signed a petition to boycott Israeli cuisine in the US (Ynet)
900 chefs claim Israel is appropriating Palestinian cuisine and trying to erase it from the culinary world, just as it is trying to erase the Palestinian people
Vandalized Anne Frank mural sparks outrage in Milan (Jerusalem Post)
Murals by contemporary artist aleXsandro Palombo addressing antisemitism were defaced with pro-Palestinian messaging.
Antisemitic incidents in France spike: 1,518 recorded, 571 arrested (Jerusalem Post)
A Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism Ministry further revealed a dramatic 316% surge in antisemitic incidents in the United States since the Israel-Hamas war began.
Students for Justice in Palestine suspended at George Washington University, adding to a growing trend (JTA)
The suspension follows the group’s projections of anti-Israel messages on the side of a campus library.
Photo: Helen Rosner: New Yorker food reporter
