Israeli and Palestinian in cafe unity

Khaled Masroujeh (left) and business partner Yael Shochat in their Fort St Cafe, Ima and Ibn.

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ISRAELIS AND Palestinians in and around Gaza are picking up the pieces after 22 days of fighting, but an Auckland cafe is showing, with shared values and a love of food, they can work together. Ima an Ibn cafe in Shortland St is owned by Israeli Yael Shochat and Palestinian Khaled Masroujeh and politics play no part in their working day.

Shochat met her New Zealand husband while studying in the UK. They moved here in 1998 with two young daughters and added another soon after.

She opened a cafe on Shortland St, Ima's Kitchen, and hired Masroujeh, a young chef, who impressed her with his "intelligence and passion for food".

He had moved to New Zealand in 1999 with his parents. He says they were looking for a new life and better university opportunities for him. He was planning to become a pilot until he discovered he was colourblind.

When Shochat closed Ima's Kitchen last year, she and Masroujeh decided to go into partnership. They opened Ima and Ibn, which means mother (in Hebrew) and son (in Arabic).

People have raised eyebrows about an Israeli and a Palestinian working together, but "the truth is that we are the same people from the same part of the world and have so much in common, especially our love of food", says Shochat.

Masroujeh takes little interest in politics.

"The politics never comes into it. Restaurant work is stressful work so it's hard, but we have a good time."

The cafe is popular among Middle Eastern customers; at night the backgammon and hookah are brought out. Shochat keeps the customers happy playing Israeli and Arabic music.

"We have basic values in common, like food and family," she says, "You know, one-on-one, people probably get along really well. They just want to get on with their lives; to raise their families and make money and live well."

"You'd be surprised", Masroujeh says. "I went there last year, and people are working together. Crossing the border from the West Bank for work, and working together."

Shochat says: "On the one-on-one people are fine. But unfortunately, it's when you get them in a group and they start waving flags. Personally, I hate flags all they do is incite."

- © Fairfax NZ News