Jalil Dabit, the Palestinian, and Oz Ben David, the Israeli, have had a restaurant together in Berlin for years. Even after October 7th they continue. Your recipe for peace: hummus instead of war.
“Make hummus – not war” is emblazoned on a poster with peace signs in rainbow colors next to the entrance to “Kanaan”. “Make hummus – not war”. Every dinner menu also comes with a portion of hummus, that creamy puree made from chickpeas, sesame, lemon juice and olive oil that is found everywhere in the Middle East.
Israelis as well as Palestinians, Lebanese and Syrians claim to have invented it, each claiming the best hummus for themselves. This was also the case for Oz Ben David, the Israeli marketing professional, and Jalil Dabit, the Palestinian chef. It was the first time we had hummus together in a kitchen in Berlin when it became clear to both of them: hummus is what we have in common. There is more that connects us than separates us.
Combining hummus and humor – the credo of Oz Ben David (left) and Jalil Dabit (right).
Hummus – the big thing in common
So Dabit and David brought together traditions, recipes and ingredients from both their families – Palestinian and Israeli – for their hummus at Canaan. People from Israel and Palestine, Iran and Syria work in her restaurant. The idea: Develop respect for each other through cooking and eating together.
With this in mind, the two have now published a cookbook with family recipes and stories, Israeli and Palestinian, says Oz Ben David: “This food should tell the story of a new future, a new world in which our children have no hate, no death and know no more suffering.”
After October 7th
No more hate like on October 7th, the day the terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel. Oz Ben David was shocked. Part of his family was among those attacked in one of the kibbutzes. He thought about giving up and closed the restaurant for now. And he was angry, cursing against the Palestinians, including Jalil Dabit.
And he just listened. “I was angry too, I cried too,” says Dabit on the phone from Ramla, south of Tel Aviv. He has his family and another restaurant there. Finally he said to Oz: “Being angry doesn’t help. What we’re doing is the best way!” That also helped David. A few days later they reopened. The “Canaan” as an opportunity.
There is actually no place left where Israelis and Palestinians can talk to each other and listen to each other’s stories, says Oz Ben David. Both sides are so immersed in their own pain and suffering that one is completely blind to the other side. “And Canaan has made it possible to create moments like these, where enemies have the chance to become friends.”
Not letting terror win is what has been driving him ever since. “After October 7, Jalil and I understood that our friendship is stronger than we previously thought.”
In the beginning there was a business idea
In the beginning there was primarily a business idea. In 2015, Palestinian chef Dabit and Israeli marketing professional David simply wanted to create a brand to import high-quality food from the Middle East to Europe, where there had been boycotts against both Israeli and Palestinian products, recalls marketing man David. And to advertise it, the restaurant was opened, says chef Dabit.
But it’s not just their hummus, not just their restaurant, and their catering and event service that keeps Oz Ben David and Jalil Dabit together in these difficult times for Israelis and Palestinians alike. They also have the same sense of humor. For their cookbook, they were photographed in their kitchen in “Kanaan”, wearing black T-shirts with white letters on the chest: “I am hummussexual.” Being able to laugh together while cooking and eating is something that apparently also brings people together.