Falafel crazy

Feb 5 2008

Amid the 12-day frenzy of the border free-for-all between Gaza and Egypt, there was one commodity the Egyptians craved from their coastal strip neighbours - the original Palestinian falafel.

Reputed among the best in the Middle East, the chickpea fried patty the Gazan way became the Palestinians' chief contribution in the bustling exchange.

From the moment Gazans stormed into the Egyptian part of the divided border town of Rafah, they bargained with Egyptian dealers for gasoline, water bottles, cigarettes, car batteries, even carpets. But Palestinian falafel vendor Ghazi Shaheen came to sell, not buy.