Israeli and Palestinian 'Peace Cafe'

The café, situated between Hebrew University (Jerusalem) and the nearby hospital grounds, used to be a rare place where Israelis and Palestinians could set aside politics, meet, and chat.

Hospital staff, professors, lecturers, and domestic and international students from Hebrew University and the hospital often socialize at the Aroma Espresso Bar. For the past 20 years, the café has provided a cheerful atmosphere and is considered a "haven" for Israelis and Palestinians.

Rania Abu al-Hawa, a university mathematics lecturer, said it's a place where people can come to "relax, no matter where they come from" and temporarily forget about political issues. Danny, a 44-year-old Israeli who works in real estate, expressed his fondness for the café because it's "apart from politics," people can focus on their work, and the Palestinian-Israeli relationship here is very good. He believes it's a place "both Arabs and Jews enjoy coming to."

Lecturer Rania Abu al-Hawa after buying a drink at the cafe. Photo: Al Jazeera — Lecturer Rania Abu al-Hawa after buying a drink at the cafe. Photo: *Al Jazeera*

Wad Sub Laban, 20, a university student who often visits the cafe during her breaks to buy a hot chocolate, also described the space as "a paradise" for Palestinians and Israelis. According to her, political issues are not discussed here because most of the staff are Arab and the customers are mainly Israeli students.

Ahmad, a Palestinian cafe employee, said he has both Palestinian and Israeli friends at work, and they often chat together every morning, setting aside any stressful issues. The cafe caters to everyone thanks to its "exceptional dynamism" and "openness." The menu offers a variety of dishes, suitable for both Palestinian and Israeli cultures.

However, after Hamas launched its surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7th, Ahmad said he spoke less with his Israeli friends. Now, the number of customers at the café has decreased compared to before, and the atmosphere at work has become more tense. The fact that the café is owned by Israelis but most of the staff are Palestinian, and that a portion of the profits goes to the Israeli military, makes the Palestinian employees hesitant.

Ahmad also said the cafe used to have a shop in a Palestinian residential area but had to close after being attacked.

Van Khanh (according to Al Jazeera )

Source link