Arabs and Jews queue up for “world’s best hummus”

 An Arab village near Jerusalem is serving co-existence on a plate to its Arab and Jewish visitors. despite the political tensions, people across the Middle East share a passion for well prepared hummus - and the village of Abu Ghosh is renowned for having the best hummus in the area.

Hummus, the traditional Middle Eastern chickpea spread, abounds at the local restaurants in the Arab village of Abu Ghosh located some 10 kilometres from Jerusalem.

The village of Abu Ghosh is renowned for having the best hummus in the area.

The village is famed locally for making the best hummous and has become a popular culinary destination for Israelis.

Fawzi Ibrahim, co-owner of the family-run restaurant says the village enjoys such good ties with its Jewish neighbours that even during the second Palestinian uprising last decade, the village was a peaceful pocket in a turbulent time.

"We don't feel any difference between a Jew and an Arab, (the) only difference is if the person is good or not, nothing else matters. We live here together, do business together, we complement each other." said Fawzi Ibrahim, Restaurant Owner.

Visitors from all over Israel arrive daily at Abu Ghosh to visit the dozens of restaurants in the village which is packed with families on weekends.

"We always eat here, it's very tasty and it's a very pleasant place. I think most Israelis come here because of the food, more than anything else." said a patron.

Over the years the village has become a hummus hotpot. In 2010 residents banded together to set a Guinness World record for the world's biggest serving of hummous. A satellite dish served as a giant bowl holding 4,090 kilograms of the delicacy.

Hummous is a popular dish countrywide in Israel, but Ibrahim says that once you've tasted the local Abu Ghosh hummous, the flavour will linger in your mouth, so you will have to come back over and over again.

In the picturesque surroundings of the village, Israelis and Arabs alike put the daily grind behind them and indulge their palates and senses with a side order that brings them together.

The village of Abu Ghosh is renowned for having the best hummus in the area.