AFULA, ISRAEL // In the Middle East battle over who owns the copyright to the small balls of ground chickpea known as felafel, tempers are almost as hot as the oil in which the patties are deep-fried.
This week the Lebanese Industrialists' Association announced that it was preparing a litigation to be presented to the international courts accusing Israel of stealing Lebanon's trademark foods, including felafel, hummus and tabbouleh.
"The Israelis are marketing our main food dishes as if they were Israeli dishes," said its president, Fadi Abboud. He added that Israel's export of these foods around the world had possibly cost Lebanon "tens of millions of dollars annually".
But David Peretz, an Israeli felafel-maker who runs the Golani restaurant, was having none of it. "Are they joking? Felafel belongs to the world, no one can claim it," he said.
Mr Peretz denied Lebanon invented felafel. "It came from Egypt, didn't it?"
And in a reminder that Lebanon and Israel have a long history of enmity not restricted to rival food claims, he said of his time in the Israeli army in the early 1980s when it invaded Lebanon: "I tried the felafel there and I can honestly say Israeli felafel is much better."
That is unlikely to persuade Lebanon's restaurateurs. Kamal Mouzawak, founder of Souq El Tayeb, a farmer's market in Beirut, said: "It's important that we protect our foods because they are part of our origins."
He and other Lebanese traders are pinning their hopes on a legal decision six years ago that awarded Greece sole right to label its cheese product feta. The Greeks successfully argued that feta had been produced by the country under that name for 6,000 years.
Miri Buzaglo, 32, from Tel Aviv and a regular at the Golani restaurant when she visits her parents, laughed at the Lebanese claim. "I thought chutzpah was an Israeli quality," she said. "Anyway, it doesn't matter who invented felafel. What matters is who makes it better now, and this place makes the best." Like most other Israeli felafel restaurants, Golani is kosher. And, in a further departure from Lebanese tradition, its customers expect chips stuffed into the pitta alongside the fritters.
In Tel Aviv, upmarket restaurants are putting their own exotic stamp on the humble felafel with innovations that may shock purists, including a shrimp felafel starter and a chocolate felafel dessert.
But Mr Peretz said the basic recipe was a design classic that could not be bettered. He learnt the recipe from his father, who immigrated from Morocco and established Golani in 1962.
He said legal action from the Lebanese did not worry him. "Let them try to sue. I'd rather say they were hurling insults than rockets."
A few kilometres from Afula in Nazareth, the capital of the country's Palestinian minority, the felafel owners were only mildly more sympathetic to the Lebanese claim.
Ziad Nassar, who owns the Al Amal restaurant, said his family had been selling felafel since 1960 and had a chain of 20 restaurants throughout the country.
"The fact is the Lebanese do make better felafel than Israelis," he said. Nonetheless, like Mr Peretz, he was unpersuaded by the threat of legal action. "I thought felafel came from Egypt, not Lebanon."
Israel's food commentators agree with them. Daniel Rogov, the country's best known food critic, called the Lebanese move "hilarious".
"It's a great PR stunt but no more than that," he said. "Felafel is Middle Eastern and no one can claim a copyright on it."
Mr Rogov said the most likely inventors of felafel were the Egyptians about 5,000 years ago, though they used fava beans rather than chickpeas. "Beans were found in the tombs of the Pharoahs," he said, adding in jest: "What were they going to do with them in the afterlife if not fry them and stick them in a sandwich."
Although his two favourite felafel restaurants are Jewish-owned, he said in general Arabs made better felafel than Jews.
The question of who owns felafel and hummus also provoked much heated debate on internet talk forums in Israel.
One participant observed that the foods listed were of neither Israeli nor Lebanese origin, but generically Arab. "I guess that would mean that only the Arab League could sue." Another suggested that the Israelis might retaliate by patenting chicken soup.
But if the Lebanese are only worried about the money they are losing to Israel in international sales of felafel, many Palestinians see the issue in larger political terms.
Israel's success in marketing felafel and hummus as Israeli products, particularly in the United States and Europe, has insulted people who feel they have been dispossessed of their homeland by Israel.
One Nazareth youth, who wished only to be known as Fadi, was on holiday from studying at college in Britain.
"I'm paying my way by working in the evenings and at weekends in an Israeli restaurant in London. But although the owner is Israeli, all the staff in the kitchen making the food are Arabs.
"They took the land from us, so it doesn't surprise me that they've managed to steal our cuisine as well."
Oded Schwartz, an Israeli living in South Africa, has written several books on the history of Jewish food. He said and it would be interesting to see how the courts responded to the case.
"The legal precedents were established by the French when they won the right to prevent the names of their most famous wines from being appropriated by other winemakers. Champagne is the obvious example. British manufacturers tried the same with cheddar cheese."
But Mr Schwartz thought it unlikely the courts would accept Lebanon's case for copyrighting the names of its foods. "Felafel was an Egyptian creation, and tabbouleh and hummus are mentioned in the Bible."
These dishes had come to be associated with Israel because it had been good at marketing and public relations, he said.
He added: "The Lebanese, possibly under French culinary influence, made these dishes more sophisticated in the late nineteenth century, but claiming ownership is more a political point than a practical matter. Recipes are used across the Middle East and unclaimable.
"After all, what will Lebanon do after suing Israel. Sue Egypt, Turkey and Greece too?"
jcook@thenational.ae
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The Disaster Artist
Director: James Franco
Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogan
Four stars
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
The Farewell
Director: Lulu Wang
Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma
Four stars
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Company%20Profile
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Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
LEADERBOARD
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k
The%20Color%20Purple
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MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
You Were Never Really Here
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Joaquim Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov
Four stars
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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