Israeli hummus cafe offers half price meals to Jews and Arabs who eat together
Hummus could become a new symbol of peace after an Israeli cafe offered half-price meals to Jews and Arabs who eat together.
Last week Hummus Bar, located near the coastal city of Netanya, advertised on its Facebook page 50 per cent off its chickpea-based dishes at tables seating Jewish and Arab customers together.
The deal comes as tensions rise between Israelis and Palestinians.
"Afraid of Arabs? Afraid of Jews? By us we do not have Arabs! By us we also do not have Jews ... By us we have got human beings!" the post read in Hebrew.
The restaurant manager Kobi Tzafrir said the promotion had been a success, already serving several tables with both Arabs and Jews on the first day.
"I always had Arab clients and Arab workers that are very nice and when the last round of violence started I felt very uncomfortable," Mr Tzafrir told NBC News.
"The situation is absurd and I thought that I can bring a smile to people's faces."
"If there is anything that can bring together these peoples, it's hummus," Mr Tzafrir told the Times of Israel.
The Facebook post has received more than 1,500 shares and 6,000 likes — well above other posts on the page which average less than 100 likes.
UQ psychologist Professor James Kirby, who studies compassion, said while the post seemed like a bit of a gimmick, it was positive.
"Coming together over a meal is a great idea," Professor Kirby told the ABC.
He said different groups, whether it be cultural or otherwise, often feared one another because it was the unknown.
"When we start to get to know the other person a little bit more, it becomes harder to look at them as a different species," he said.
"When you drop that barrier just a touch and allow yourself to be open, you start to realise there is so much we do have in common here."
He said positive change could be inspired by the concept going viral, like the ice bucket challenge started to raise awareness of and funds for motor neurone disease last year.
"We have seen such great things happen from the Ice Bucket Challenge. What I love about this is the coming together again ... you never know what might happen with these conversations," Professor Kirby said.
"The more things we can do to encourage coming together in safe environments to eat meals together, the better."
Source: ABC News, Kellie Scott, 21st October 2015
Originally published as: Israeli hummus cafe offers half price meals to Jews and Arabs who eat together
