Egyptians crackers for Arafat

Ewen MacAskill
May 28, 2002
The Guardian

There is a new accessory for people wanting to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian cause: Yasser Arafat cheesy puffs

For years sympathetic Westerners have worn the keffiyeh, the traditional Arab headdress favoured by Mr Arafat, or, more discreetly, a small piece of jewellery in the shape of an olive tree.

An Egyptian food group, al-Jawhara, decided a fortnight ago to capitalise on the support for the Palestinians in Egypt and put a new product on the market: Abu Ammar (Mr Arafat's nom de guerre) corn snacks.

Also available in tomato or paprika flavour, they sell for 25 piastres (3p) and the proceeds of one packet in 25 is pledged to the Palestinians.

The company said the aim was to educate the young about the Palestinian cause and to raise money for Palestinian medical services for people injured in clashes with the Israelis.

The packets say, "Abu Ammar, hero of the struggle", and, "The more you buy, the more you build. Heartbeat by heartbeat, hand by hand, we'll build a new era."