Heat oil in a saucepan and sauté onions over medium heat until they begin to brown. Add chickpeas and green beans and stir fry for 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cover with water; then cover saucepan and cook over medium heat for about an hour or until chickpeas are tender. Serve hot or cold.
(To split chickpeas, soak overnight. Drain and spread on one half of a towel, fold over the other half to cover; then roll with a rolling pin. The chickpeas with split into two and the skin will loosen. Discard the skins.)