Israeli Man Faces Discrimination at Berlin Hummus Restaurant, Files Lawsuit
Following the October 7 escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict, Israeli eateries in Berlin, particularly in the multicultural Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood, have been closing amid rising hostility. Anti-Israel graffiti, protests, and social media campaigns have targeted these establishments, leading to a decline in Israeli culinary presence. Even "Canaan," a restaurant promoting peace and coexistence, shut down due to repeated harassment.
Elias, a 35-year-old Israeli data analyst who relocated to Berlin two years ago, experienced direct discrimination in February when he visited the Arab hummus restaurant Al-Hamra in Prenzlauer Berg. After ordering hummus, the waiter corrected his pronunciation, insisting the word "hummus" was Palestinian and not Israeli. When Elias revealed his Israeli identity, the waiter told him to leave, pointing to the door and sarcastically suggesting another café across the street. Elias described the encounter as humiliating and the first time he personally felt antisemitism in Berlin.
Despite attempts to de-escalate, the waiter expressed clear hostility, and other patrons ignored the incident. Elias and his partner left shocked. He later filed a formal complaint through the anti-discrimination organization Ofek, which the restaurant ignored, prompting a civil lawsuit under German anti-discrimination law. Elias aims to highlight that public spaces in Germany must be accessible to all regardless of origin and to send a message to Jews and Israelis facing antisemitism abroad to stand up for their rights.
Elias noted that several Israeli restaurants have closed recently due to antisemitic harassment, reflecting a broader rise in exclusion of Jews and Israelis from daily life in Berlin. While he refuses to live in fear or leave Berlin, the incident has made him more cautious and strengthened his Jewish and Israeli identity. He hopes his legal action will help others face such discrimination with pride and without fear.
Key organizations like Ofek report a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents since October 7, underscoring the tense atmosphere for Jews in Berlin. Elias emphasized that food should unite people, making the discrimination he faced over a simple hummus order especially painful.
