Protests against Burger King opening a restaurant in an Israeli settlement
On 30 July 1999, a concerted effort was made by a number of Palestinian/Arab mailinglists including Freedom-list and Hanthala Palestine, to oppose Burger King's decision to open a restaurant at the Israeli Ma'ale Adumim settlement.
By opening a restaurant on property illegally seized (or "spontaneously created", according to Ma'ale Adumim founders) for the exclusive use by Israeli Jews, Burger King sends us the message that the corporation has no respect for international law, much less its commitment to diversity. Does Burger King intend to endorse the policies of the Israeli settler movement whose aim is to confiscate as much land as possible in order to prevent the self-determination of Palestinians living in the area?
McDonalds doesn't.
In fact, McDonalds-Israel owner and general manager, Omri Padan, said in an interview published in Ha'aretz (1/15/98) that, "McDonald's-Israel neither did nor will open a branch at any Israeli settlement beyond the Green Line [the 1967 borders]č. Already when I was the general manager of Kitan Textiles I told the board I would resign immediately if they move to open a plant on the West Bankč. I have the privilege of not needing to compromise on my principles."
Burger King shouldn't compromise its principles either. With over 10,000 restaurants worldwide and serving 11.8 million customers daily, Burger King is a powerful corporation that can send an important message to its franchises: support international law; don't open restaurants on occupied territory.
The Burger King franchise was opened by Israeli-owned Rikamor Ltd. several weeks ago in Ma'ale Adumin, a huge, urban bedroom community on the edge of Jerusalem. Built on land wrested from Arab control by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, the settlement violates international covenants barring population changes in occupied territories.
List members were asked to write Burger King to tell them to show some corporate responsibility. (Like the Israeli McDonalds franchise.)