It looks like the international system of governance is finally paying off. I mean, despite reports that the US and its allies are looking to bypass the UN in order to impose sanctions on Iran, we can all rest assured. The international system of dialogue is finally being put to good use.
Right.
Lebanon is suing Israel for ownership of its national foods, including falafel, hummus, and tabouleh. I am not making this up. The LA Times and Ha’aretz report:
“In a way the Jewish state is trying to claim ownership of traditional Lebanese delicacies like falafel, tabouleh and hummus” [Lebanese Industrialists Association Fadi] 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.”
Wait, it gets better: There is a precedent!
Surely you’ve heard of the famous “Greek Feta cheese” precedent? Where Greece managed to prove ownership of Feta Cheese? You haven’t heard?
This crazy world.
[HT: Mixed Multitudes]
Yummy photo by morbuto.
—Benjamin Schuman-Stoler
