While more than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 under Israeli bombing, the news seems to recall the extent of a genocide that the world is struggling to stop. In this sea of pain and ruins, an unexpected news came to break, for a moment, the cycle of despair: a Palestinian beer produced in the West Bank managed to reach the British rays, reports Associated Press.
Resist despite the occupation
The Taybeh Brewing Co. brasserie, founded 34 years ago in a small Christian village in West Bank, is a living anomaly. Producing beer in a predominantly Muslim society, under military occupation, in the midst of water cuts, restrictions and settlers’ attacks, is already a challenge. Maintaining an activity there while the West Bank is in turn stifled by raids, checkpoints and violence, is of cultural and economic resistance.
“If you succeed in Palestine, you can succeed everywhere,” recalls Madees Khoury, master brewer and heiress of this family adventure.
A solidarity partnership
It is in Scotland that a decisive support was born. The Brewgooder company has proposed an unprecedented collaboration: producing in Glasgow a Mediterranean Lager called Sun & Stone, brewed with European malts and hops but thought to carry the Palestinian voice.
- 180,000 cans were produced.
- They are distributed by the CO-OP channel in 1,600 stores in the United Kingdom.
- No profit is retained: the revenues will be donated to local associations in the West Bank and the Disasters Emergency Committee, which helps victims of Gaza and the Middle East.
“It’s just a beer, but she carries a message of humanity and solidarity,” said James Hughes, co -founder of Brewgoder.
