Make Hummus Not War (ATOM Study Guide)

Could a love for hummus be the recipe for peace in the Middle East? This was the question on director Trevor Graham's mind when he set out to film Make Hummus Not War.

One of the oldest known prepared foods in human history, hummus is claimed by multiple Middle Eastern nationalities. So when Graham, a self-described hummus tragic, learned of a Lebanese plan to sue Israel for acting as if it had proprietary rights over the dish, he was intrigued. In 2008, the Association of Lebanese Industrialists ignited the 'Hummus War' by deciding to sue Israel in an international court, claiming Israel food manufacturers were promoting traditional Arab cuisine as an Israeli product. Graham's decision to document the intense rivalry over chickpeas and who 'owns' the hummus heritage lead him to the hummus bars of the Middle East, where he met people for whom hummus is a near-religious obsession.

Funny, lively and insightful, Make Hummus Not War offers a different take on the politics and strife that have engulfed the Middle East since the foundation of Israel in 1948.

Make Hummus Not War is suitable for secondary students in Years 9–12 undertaking:

• Arabic
• English
• Geography
• Global Politics
• Food and Technology
• History
• Media
• Religion