4 days ago
Outrage in Palestine over snack ad mocking 'last supper'
ALBAWABA - A controversial advertisement by a Palestinian snack company has sparked widespread anger among Christian communities and broader segments of Palestinian society after it featured a parody of The Last Supper, one of Christianity's most sacred religious images.
The ad replaced the figures of Jesus and his disciples with sheep heads and used bags of chips to represent the holy meal, turning a deeply spiritual symbol into a promotional gimmick.
The response was swift and condemning. Many Christians viewed the campaign as a blatant act of disrespect and an attack on their faith. Protests erupted online and offline, with some store owners discarding the company's products in public protest. Religious leaders and civil society figures issued statements denouncing the ad for crossing ethical lines and mocking foundational religious values.
In an opinion piece, Dr. Imad Salem emphasized that the ad cannot be defended as humorous or creative. He argued that such content undermines the delicate social fabric of Palestine and damages the values of respect, unity, and national dignity. Salem noted that Palestine's strength lies in its religious and cultural diversity, and acts like this threaten to unravel the coexistence Palestinians have long upheld under occupation and adversity.
He warned that turning sacred symbols into tools for marketing trivializes deeply held beliefs and can open the door to sectarian division. He also criticized the growing trend of commercial content crossing moral and spiritual boundaries without accountability.
Salem called for a renewed national dialogue that reinforces values of tolerance and respect for all faiths. He urged media creators, educators, and businesses to align their work with the broader ethical and cultural responsibility of building a nation that embraces all its people equally.
He concluded that true national unity requires more than slogans—it must be rooted in everyday practices of dignity, empathy, and moral accountability. Only through this commitment can Palestinians maintain their shared identity and uphold justice for all citizens, regardless of faith.
