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Lebanon: Israel stole our falafel
Roee Nahmias
Published: 06.10.08, 09:10
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1. Rabbi Hillel invented the Sandwich
A Jew   (10.06.08)
Imagine how many billions of dollars in damages we could claim from Lebanon and the rest of the world! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbi_Hillel#Sandwich
2. If thats the Lebanese problem the falafel
Eric... ,   Israel....   (10.06.08)
Try win a noble peace prize.Something that would contribute to mankind like in medicine or the peace prize its self.Soo dont worry soo much about your dumb falafel.
3. Falafel, Couscous and apple shtrudel
Jerome ,   Melbourne   (10.06.08)
Stop there Lebanon! I have been cooking and eating couscous according to my forefathers recipe, 3000years old from Morocco. You arabs stole my house, my money and forced me out the country. You mean I can't producs and market couscous? Lebanese Jews brought with them to Israel their forefathers recipes. You stole their house their lands and their money. Now you want to steal also their traditions ? This should be Israeli defence in any international court action. Lebanon back off. Israelis of Lebanese origin are entitled to call a spade a spade and market their traditional foods by their names!
4. What a load of Falafel!!
Kim ,   Israel   (10.06.08)
That's the first I've heard of this. Almost everyone knows that falafel, hummous and tabouleh are Arabic dishes - doesn't mean we can't make it or eat it or enjoy it. That's like Martha Stewart registering a pattern for chocolate brownies!!! What a bunch of fools!
5. pathetic.
Rebecca ,   Modiin   (10.06.08)
6. and I invented soup (end)
Adina Rut ,   Tzfat, Israel   (10.06.08)
7. Faallahfel
zznhl   (10.06.08)
American Heritage Dictionary - chick·pea (chĭk'pē') Pronunciation Key n. In both senses also called garbanzo. An annual Asian plant (Cicer arietinum) in the pea family, widely cultivated for the edible seeds in its short inflated pods. A seed of this plant. The vegatable from whish Fallafel is made is the Chickpea or Garbanza(sic-Hindi word) origanated in India where remains of it have been found dating back 8000 years. The Indians should sue the Lebanese and the Israelis.
8. Take your Falafel. But Israel and the Temple mount are ours!
Nethanel ,   Gush Etzion   (10.06.08)
9. Chickpeas are a historically Roman foodstuff
Rachel ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (10.06.08)
Only ancient Romans can sue Israel over her falafel, since chickpeas are referenced in ancient Roman texts that have been translated contemporaneously. Only racist Lebanese morons would bother with a worhtless suit as this one is. Feta cheese was a different matter as it is historically Greek and the arguments in the EU were over labeling and orginality of the ingredients and the processing of the cheese. No one can prove that the Lebanese hold a patent over falafel or how it is made. The Levantine was a Roman province before there ever was a "Lebanon".
10. #3 There are almost no Israelis of Lebanese origin
Chaim   (10.06.08)
Lebanese Jews largely immigrated to America, France and other Western countries, not many went to Israel.
11. FALAFEL
ADI   (10.06.08)
BOMBS, INNOCENT PEOPLE, DESTRUCTION,, THIS PEOPLE DIDNT EVEN SPRE FOOD,,,, SEE WHICH KIND OF PEOPLE WE ARE DEALING WITH....
12. All Middle East
Serge ,   Antwerp, Belgium   (10.06.08)
These dishes are widely spread in all the Middle East. Even if it originated in Lebanon, which I don't know and will not judge, it is eaten in many countries and considered as local food, unlike feta. Denmark is still allowed to produce feta, but they cannot use the word feta. For the use of the word feta on danish cheese in the past no compensation was paid to Greece. Israel was succesfull in marketing these dishes to the general public in Europe, unlike Lebanon, whose products are sold in ethnic lebanese stores.
13. Very strange
Sagi ,   Israel   (10.06.08)
because in almost every supermarket in Europe or US one can find humus marked 'a traditional Greek dip"
14. IMBECILES (no wonder there's "problems" in the M.E)
Australian Guy   (10.06.08)
What a stupid mentality. Very hard to take this seriously - but I'm sure they are. Amazing. Flush this story down the toilet - that's where it belongs.
15. Idiocracy is also traditionally Lebanese
Elisha ,   Jerusalem   (10.06.08)
16. # The Earl of Sandwich invented it
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (10.06.08)
And Colonel Sanders invented Chicken.
17. Who Cares?
emanon ,   USA   (10.06.08)
18. just be fair
Jacob Erickson ,   Tel Aviv Israel   (10.06.08)
I think this is a perfectly legitimate claim, though if the lebanese are going to claim sole production and distribution rights over Israel, I expect them to also lay claim to it for the entire middle east and world. So that they are the only ones who can market tabouleh, kubbeh, hummus, falafel and fattoush. But if they're only trying to get Israel to stop, then their claims are completely unfounded. My personal opinion is that they're foods belonging to the middle east. And the territory formerly called Palestine, which is now the Nation of Israel happens to be in the middle east, despite their best efforts to make it not.
19. I do not think this laysuit makes any sense
Palestinian   (10.06.08)
First who said that Falafel or Hummus is Lebanese... These are products known in Syria Palestine Jordan and Egypt and have been traditional food in the East Mediterrenean region since quite some time. Yes, I agree that Israel is stealing the culture and foklore of this region just like they stole the land, but the fact is that food should stay out of politics :)
20. Never siezes to amaze me
Wissam ,   Lebanon   (10.06.08)
Even in food you just can't leave us alone!:-) You tend to steal everything, or is it also God's request from you to claim the Tabouleh, Kubbe, Hummus and the Falafel!?
21. #19: If Israelis were stealing your "culture and folklore"
(10.06.08)
then they'd be strapping on suicide vests, hijacking airplanes and have no viable economy.
22. # 20 Wissam
Sagi ,   Israel   (10.06.08)
I never cease to have a seizure when I read your postings.
23. Why don't they copywright terrorism,after all they invented
Bookra Fillmishmish ,   Jerusalem   (10.06.08)
24. #22
Wissam ,   Lebanon   (10.06.08)
25. #22
Wissam ,   Lebanon   (10.06.08)
Great :-) "Israeli" population - 1 :-) I should post more on ynet!
26. Try to stop us if you've got the (felafel) balls.
Ilan ,   Ariel   (10.06.08)
27. Falafel
bobby ,   Canada   (10.06.08)
This is war Get the nukes on alert This is the final straw
28. they've got a lot of suing to do...
Softwalker ,   Ottawa, Canada   (10.06.08)
If they go and sue Israel, they'll also have to sue Egypt, Syria, Jordan and who knows how many other Arab countries for trademark infringement. Wouldn't you love to see that...
29. To number 10
Shimon ,   Poleg   (10.06.08)
There are in fact a significant number of Jews in Israel from Beirut and other parts of Lebanon. In fact there are still Jews in Beirut.
30. And "Lebanon" is a Biblical Hebrew word
Jake   (10.06.08)
literally, meaning "that which is white" or "the white place", referring to the snow-covered mountains that make up Mt. Lebanon. It is derived from the Hebrew root L-B-N, meaning white. (In Arabic the word for white is "Abyad"). And another thing. The Arabic "Shawarma" is in fact derived from the Turkish word "Cevirme", meaning "rotated".
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