The future looks bleak for brewers in Palestinian territories as hardline Islamists shut down bars

Ian MacKinnon:

AT THE only brewery in the Palestinian territories they believe they can see the future. And under the government of the Islamic movement, Hamas, it is alcohol-free and green.

The Taybeh brewery in the West Bank is alarmed that the administration could impose its strict vision of Islam, banning alcohol and ending the unique decade-old business.

But the bosses had already seen the winds change and four months ago began developing a non-alcoholic beer to be ready for the summer. For good measure they gave the bottle a green label, the colour of Hamas.

“We’re definitely considering this non-alcoholic version of our beer. It’ll have a green label, since the sky’s green now,” said Nadim Khoury, general director of Taybeh, in a wry reference to the ubiquitous Hamas flags. “Everybody’s concerned about what might happen.” Fear for what the future might hold is not confined to those whose businesses conflict with the tenets of Islam.

Taybeh’s 1,300 souls are Christians, who make up 2 per cent of the Palestinian population, and many fear that cultural change may be forced upon them. “For the Christian minority the overwhelming feeling is apprehension,” said Sam Fakir, 65, a retired car mechanic. “Christian women tend not to cover up so much, but we fear Hamas may force them to wear hijab (headscarves) . Or even impose Sharia (Islamic law).”

But Hamas is not the Taleban. Its leaders are fiercely proud that their daughters are highly educated and emphasise that there are no plans to impose sweeping social change or the religious ideology of Hamas — despite its long-term commitment to Islamic law — through parliament.

The West Bank spokesman for Hamas, Mahmoud Ramahi, who has just been elected, said that the movement’s policy was not to force any social change on an unwilling population.

“We’ll not interfere with Palestinians’ liberty or freedoms,” Dr Ramahi said. “Girls won’t be separated from boys in schools. Women won’t be forced to wear hijab. We won’t close restaurants that serve alcohol.”

But the anaesthetist at Ramallah hospital conceded that Hamas’s preferred goal was that the Palestinian state should be Islamic, if people could be convinced. “With regard to Sharia, we can’t impose that because we don’t have a state,” he said. “First let us liberate our land, then we’ll hold a referendum to see if the people want an Islamic or secular state.”

Despite the caution, many believe that change will be gradual and cultural — through Hamas’s influential allies in mosques — not legislative.

Alcohol retailers cite the Gaza experience. Since the intifada began and Hamas grew in power, every outlet has shut.

A Gaza wholesaler, George Christo Tarazi, was burnt from his home when he resisted entreaties to close his doors. The United Nations’ Beach Club, the last bar in Gaza, was bombed on New Year’s Day. The story was repeated in the north of the West Bank.

Rami Jubran’s family has run its beer, wine and spirit wholesalers from Ramallah for 40 years. Another branch makes the most famous arak in the West Bank. But Mr Jubran is certain that the days are numbered for the businesses. “We were concerned even before Hamas’s election,” said Mr Jubran, 28. “Look what happened in Gaza. Now they’re elected, they’ll be able to close it down by law. We see no future in alcohol. It began with the intifada. People became more religious as their economic situation grew worse.”

Taybeh brewery, established in 1995 with the blessing of the late Yassir Arafat, is hedging its bets with its nonalcoholic beer, though Mr Khoury is sceptical that it can sustain the business.

“We wouldn’t like to see all our beer non-alcoholic,” Mr Khoury said. “But it would be another alternative if things got difficult. I think it’s a real risk Hamas will impose its Islamic vision.”

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