ISRAEL-SHAPED SCHNITZEL SPARKS A SQUABBLE BY ANNEXING GAZA AND THE WEST BANK

Israel-shaped Schnitzel Sparks a Squabble by Annexing Gaza and the West Bank

An Israel-shaped schnitzel for Independence Day has garnered criticism for nonchalantly ignoring the Palestinian territories. The company joins the trend of incorporating Israeli patriotism into marketing strategy, ramped up by businesses after October 7

May 08th, 16PM May 08th, 16PM

As debate rages on in Israel over how to celebrate Independence Day in the shadow of October 7 and the ongoing war in Gaza, one Israeli company has decided how it will mark the day - with breaded chicken. The frozen food company Oaf Tov (Good Chicken) launched a special limited edition "Israel-shaped schnitzel" in honor of the country's 76th Independence Day, which will take place next week.

According to Oaf Tov's website, "What is this if not the fulfillment of a dream? We are talking about the country, of course. And all we have achieved in the last 76 years."

"True, not everything is 'crunch' here," the statement goes on to say, "but this is our home, and we are here to stay."

The company announced the release across its social media platforms, with many users praising the idea as a cute and creative way to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut. But not everyone was thrilled with Oaf Tov's depiction of the map of Israel on the packaging. Some questioned the decision to cover the Golan Heights, which has been all but deserted during the war due to its proximity to Israel's shared border with Lebanon, with a strategically placed illustration of a corn cob.

Others took issue with the shape of the country, which includes both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, two areas that are not technically part of Israel. The left-wing organization "Looking the Occupation in the Eyes," posted a photo of the product to their X account under the caption, "Oaf Tov, you seemed to have made a small mistake on your map. We are sure you did not intend to ignore the existence of another people in this space between the Sea and the River. And you surely aren't proposing we erase, expel, destroy, or occupy them."

Side by side with the original product, the group also posted their reinterpretation of the Israel-shaped schnitzel with the West Bank and Gaza removed from the illustration. "We are happy to help," the caption continued. "The schnitzel was delicious. May all of us Israelis and Palestinians have a better year. "

To which one user responded, "Two big bites and you'll have an accurate map."

A candy company has also jumped on the Israeli patriotism trend, with a product they are calling "Hamas-niks' eyes." The individually wrapped gummy eyeballs, which include a gooey red center that oozes out as you bite into it, come in a container that depicts a Hamas militant whose eyes have been gouged by an incoming rocket. Written on the box are two instructions - "Product must be sold in this container" and "Picture is for illustrative purposes only."

In the days and weeks after October 7, many Israeli companies looked for ways to incorporate Israelis' collective emotions into their marketing strategy. Back in November, as support for soldiers soared, the popular bakery chain Piece of Cake began producing cupcakes decorated with insignias of different units of the Israeli Defense Forces. And a winery located in the Israeli settlement of Psagot created a series of wines named after the southern border communities where Hamas' massacre took place.

Even egg sellers got in on the action when, soon after the war began, they started printing popular wartime slogans on their eggs next to the traditional sell-by date. The eggs were imprinted with statements such as "The people of Israel live," "Together we will win," and "2…3.. Launch," the military command uttered before a bomb is dropped that became a viral sensation after the IDF released several recordings featuring a commander repeating the sentence.

2024-05-08T13:47:07Z dg43tfdfdgfd