Reply #1: Not a terribly impressive piece. Sadly it comes off as petty

[cali]

this is ridiculous, and not even true. Chickpeas have been eaten and cultivated and consumed by the peoples of the Middle East, Africa and India for millenia. Hummus and variations on the dish are found in many different cultures. It doesn't belong to the Palestinians.

"The Israelis, meanwhile, cooked the largest ever dish of hummus, symbolising their resolve to appropriate Palestinian culture after having seized most of Palestinian land and appropriated Palestinian political rights."

And why make a statement that's patently false to most educated people? Israel's occupation of the West Bank is not the longest occupation. China has occupied Tibet for 52 years. Both occupations are terrible, but it's a fact that China has occupied Tibet for over a decade longer than Israel has occupied the West Bank. Oh, and calling Israel the so-called State of Israel is simply refusing to live in reality. As Pema Chodron says "Start Where You Are". And where the Palestinians need to start is recognizing the reality of Israel- hateful as that understandably is to them.

Much of what Barghouti writes is true, but much of it is inflated. He seems determined to push the narrative that Palestinians have suffered more than any other persons on the planet. Why even go that route? Suffering of groups shouldn't be a contest.

The rhetoric Barghouti employs is the rhetoric of demonization and hyperbole. It advances nothing positive whatsoever.