Gaza restaurant offers North Koreans discounts... but no takers

Though Gaza restaurant owner Raba knows there are no North Koreans in the besieged enclave, he hopes they will come someday, perhaps after joining other foreign aid workers.

Narrated

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

14 Dec, 2017

This restaurant is offering North Koreans discounts in appreciation of Kim Jong Un [AP]

A Palestinian business in Gaza is offering huge discounts to its North Korean customers but there is just one problem - there are no North Koreans in Gaza.

Ibrahim Raba, manager of a shawarma restaurant in Gaza's Jabaliya refugee camp, says he is offering the 80 percent discounts to show his appreciation for North Korea's rejection of President Donald Trump's recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

He has also placed a large photo of reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the glass door entrance to his restaurant.

The new Kim fan, Raba likes to quote the North Korean leader, saying: "Trump proved he is mentally deranged."

And though Raba knows there are no North Koreans in the besieged enclave, he hopes they will come someday, perhaps after joining other foreign aid workers.

The vast majority of Palestinians disagree with Trump's move to declare Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

A new Palestinian opinion poll, conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research, found overwhelming opposition to Washington's decision, with 91 percent considering Trump's declaration last week a threat to Palestinian interests.

Forty-five percent believe Palestinians should cut all contacts with the US and submit a complaint to the International Criminal Court and launch an armed uprising.

While Trump claimed his declaration would not prejudge future talks on the status of Jerusalem, 72 percent of respondents believe his administration will not submit any peace plan.

Jerusalem is a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Arab leaders and others have reacted in anger.

Trump's move has been condemned worldwide and protests have been taking place globally including in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan.