Why U.S. restaurants and eateries have become a flashpoint in the Gaza conflict
From street carts to fine-dining establishments, Jewish and Arab American-owned eateries have become another front in the wake of the Gaza conflict.
From food carts to fine dining establishments, Jewish and Arab American-owned eateries have become another flashpoint amid the Gaza conflict, with some facing acts of vandalism and harassment or being targeted by demonstrators.
A pro-Palestinian rally two weeks ago in front of Townhouse, an upscale restaurant and bar in downtown Detroit, led its owner to contact law enforcement and increase security, a spokesman said. In social media posts, people could be heard chanting to Jeremy Sasson, CEO of the Heirloom Hospitality Group, "How many kids did you kill today?" Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags as police monitored from across the street, while another group held an Israeli flag in opposition.
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Restaurants and food culture have historically attracted protests and boycotts — from the Boston Tea Party to lunch counter sit-ins of the Civil Rights era — gaining importance because of their public visibility and representation of a community.
Sasson, who is Jewish American of Israeli descent, has previously said he has received antisemitic backlash — and a slew of negative online reviews — for being a staunch supporter of Israel. Palestinian activists, however, have countered that they are not against a person's religious beliefs, but rather against support of the Israel Defense Forces.
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