December 28th 2023.
Ayat, a Palestinian restaurant chain, recently opened a franchise in Brooklyn's heavily Jewish neighborhood of Ditmas Park. However, this has sparked controversy due to the language used in their menus. Descriptions and phrases, such as "from the river to the sea," a pro-Palestinian battle cry, and "down with the occupation," have been deemed "openly genocidal" by some of the locals.
The restaurant's owners, Ayat Masoud and her husband Abdul Elenanin, maintain that their interpretation of these phrases is simply freedom and rights for the Palestinian people between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea. Additionally, Elenanin explained that they are not hostile toward Jews and that they detest the mistreatment of Jews, citing the similarities between Judaism and Islam.
To show their cultural pride, the restaurant is adorned with Palestinian flags and depictions of people wearing traditional Palestinian clothing. Moreover, they state that it is important for the Ayat brand to have authentic representation and they market the restaurant with two rules: to always mention the occupation of the Palestinian people and to always advocate for peace.
However, not everyone is convinced. Dahlia Scheitzer of Ditmas Park believes that the owners are intentionally trying to ignite customer emotions. She likened the situation to a restaurant with Southern food having the Confederate flag on their menu, trying to spin it as "southern pride."
On the other hand, some people believe that Ayat has a right to decorate and market their establishment as they see fit. For this reason, the restaurant remains a hot topic of debate among customers. Despite the outrage, the owners continue to stand by their message, even after Hamas' attack in October.
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