Falafel Wars

IF ONLY these were our only problems in the Middle East, my precious friend and companion:

A new war between Israel and Lebanon has erupted, but this time the war is not geopolitical, but rather an issue of cuisine-who has sovereignty over traditional Arab dishes and sandwiches.

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.

"We are working on registering all the foods and ingredients which will be submitted to the Lebanese government so it can appeal to the international courts against Israel," Abboud said.

"The Israelis are marketing such Lebanese delicacies under the same names and ingredients around the world," he added. "This is harming and causing great losses to Lebanon."

Abboud said he prepared his memo on the subject, based on the case of the Greek "feta cheese precedent" that occurred six years ago.

At the time, Greece managed to prove in international institutions that it was the "originator" of feta cheese and won the case.

According to Abboud, while Lebanon never registered the names and ingredients of its own delicacies, "it can refer to the Greece precedent since these foods are historically known as traditional Lebanese foods.

"By doing so, we are preventing Israel from stealing our main food trademarks and selling them around the world," Abboud added.

From: Haaretz News
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Listen you who have ears to hear:

WAR IS A TYRANT and the longer we allow war to feed on our peoples, the more energy we shall have to expend in the defense, and the higher the cost we shall have to EVENTUALLY pay before the end.

For there is no moving forward unless we meet the demands of our being human and serve the cause of sacred life upon which we are each brought by our LORD into this world.

Peace in the Middle East, although at times seemingly extremely elusive, should be in the prayers and noble intentions of those who believe in it - as we absolutely do.

Remember that BOTH sides are suffering and forgetting not all the victims and their undying hopes, consider what exactly is being taken from our midst by either our being silent or our turning away from this feral beast.

Remember, my honorable Abrahamic companion, what war does to one, war does to all.

The more we stand divided on this issue, the longer we allow division to stand in the way of peace, the more suffering we shall inherit from the lack that is everyday increased by the lost promise of so many lives devoured by this conflict.

And this lack has long ago surpassed our ability to cope which is why so many have fallen into despair and this despair in turn feeds into the vicious cycles of violence and hatred that in turn only whets the appetite of the beast, to the eternal regret of all.
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Prosper the Peace. Prosper the People.

Sancta Sanctis!

Glory to God in the highest
Adoration to Jesus Christ
Peace to men of good will.