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Dear Stan, You know your age-old war has crossed over the mere political when it rises out of the ashes of trenches and battlefields and treads into kitchens; when both sides start arguing about who has a stake over appetisers (no pun intended), you know you're knee deep in conflicting sentiments.

I think this is not to be taken lightly, not just because hummus is as Arab as apple pie is American, but because it brings to light that cultural occupation is just as destructive as territorial occupation.

This is definitely a novel way to make vocal the plight of the Arabs vis-a-vis Israel as this could just be the first organised, large-scale, direct, institutionalised Arab grievance towards Israel in a very long time. After all, in the impoverished and frustrated Arab streets these days, the most successful small businesses are – hands down – restaurants and fast food joints: no matter how difficult your day-to-day life can get or how much your wife calls you cheap for not being able to buy meat, there’s always that 50 cent falafel sandwich and cup of tea to turn to.

Academics are always looking for ways to describe popular ideologies in the Arab world in the aftermath of the Islamic empires. Arab nationalism, secularism, Westernisation, modernisation, socialism has taken fairly unsuccessful turns (so far). But food: will it be the new Abdel Nasser?

 Farah El-Sharif,

Georgetown University.

PS: I have had the pleasure of closely following the GulfWeekly and I think it is a valuable resource for me to keep informed about the developments and opinions in the Arab world, especially as I currently live abroad in Washington, DC.

See Eating Out: Page 31

Dear Stan,

 With reference to the Richard Browning interview with reporter Asma Salman in last week’s GulfWeekly, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it and read for myself what Riffa Views are saying about the status of their project.

Being a ‘Buyer’ (official definition in the Riffa Views Purchase and Sales Contract) of ‘Premises’ (no where in the contract is the word ‘Lifestyle’ mentioned) I experienced every possible emotion except joy or happiness upon reading it.

My family and I have to extend the terms of our current rented accommodation, make mortgage payments and possible penalties by our own contractors due to delayed access for them to carry out their works (pool, landscaping etc).

What makes matters worse is the ease in which Riffa Views shift their priorities from us – the buyers – to the school and golf club while taking all our payments as per the original delivery schedule.

They have our money but are not delivering and not even compensating us for the pain they are causing.

 Laith Al-Hindawi, by email.

A Riffa Views spokesman said: “We certainly believe the well   reported interview, and our     earlier discussions directly with the writer, addressed the matters raised.

“In addition, we can assure the writer that no priorities have changed as the contractors    responsible for the school and the other amenities are different to those contracted for the villa construction. 

“Riffa Views welcomes the views of those with informed and constructive criticism and respects the right of others to comment. All our owners are invited to contact us directly with any queries.”