US Palestinian business owners speak up for Gaza amid swell of support | US small business

Most Palestinian-owned businesses in the US weave hints of their culture into the business: traditional Palestinian embroidery, keffiyah scarves or ouds decorate restaurant spaces; social media feeds are peppered with old photos or maps of Palestine prior to the 1948 creation of Israel.

But publicizing views on current and historic Palestinian/Israeli politics can be tricky, to put it lightly.

However, the recent violence in the Gaza strip and Israel in May, leaving an estimated 248 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead, made some Palestinian business owners in the US re-evaluate what to state publicly about the conflict.

While Israel’s new government and prime minister Naftali Bennett replacing Benjamin Netanayhu dominate the headlines, unrest has continued and US Palestinians are speaking out.

“It’s my obligation as a human being, let alone Palestinian, to post about what’s going on, and to educate people,” says Kamel Jamal, owner of the…

Read more…