Burger
King Boycott
(Articles in Chronological Order)
Burger King in a shopping mall in Ma'ale Adumim,
built on illegally occupied Palestinian land
BURGER
KING'S DECISION TO DO IT THEIR WAY DRAWS BOYCOTT
American Muslims for Jerusalem
PRESS CONFERENCE
August 4, 1999
Restaurant in West Bank settlement angers Muslims
and Arabs
Washington, DC (August 4, 1999)- On Thursday, August 5, a coalition
of
organizations will announce a worldwide campaign to boycott Burger
King
restaurants. American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) called for the
boycott
after Burger King ignored Muslims concerns over the opening of a
restaurant in Palestinian territory occupied by Israel.
Several weeks ago Burger King opened a restaurant in the West Bank
settlement of Ma'ale Adumim. This settlement was built illegally
on land
seized from Muslims and Christians by Israel after it conquered
the
territory around Jerusalem in 1967. According to international law,
Israel's construction of the Ma'ale Adumim settlement violates the
Fourth
Geneva Convention articles forbidding the transfer of an occupying
power's civilian population into occupied territory.
(McDonalds has refused to open a restaurant beyond Israel's pre-1967
borders. Last year Ben & Jerry's refused to allow its Israeli
subsidiary
to use water from territory occupied in the 1967 conflict.)
Members of the Muslim community began contacting Burger King three
weeks ago at the request of AMJ. To date Burger King has expressed
an
unwillingness to address the issue in a manner that shows respect
for its
customer's concerns.
Burger King reports 10,365 restaurants worldwide (as of April 30,
1999).
Of these 2,419 are located outside the United States. The corporation
has
locations in several Muslim majority nations including Malaysia,
Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. USA Today recently reported that
Burger King's CEO Dennis Malamatinas is specifically seeking to
strengthen the organization in international markets.
The following organizations have joined together for this effort:
American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Foundation, American
Muslims for Jerusalem, American Task Force for Palestine, Arab American
Institute, The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Muslim Public
Affairs Council, National Association of Arab Americans, Palestinian
American Congress and Partners for Peace.
WHERE: 3700 Columbia Pike in Arlington, VA across the street from
the
Burger King at 3627 Columbia Pike. This is located just west of
the
intersection of Columbia Pike and Glebe Road
WHEN: Thursday, August 5, 1999 at 11 a.m. (Eastern)
Burger
giant faces boycott threat
BBC News
August 6, 1999
A group of American Muslims is calling for a world-wide boycott
of the fast-food chain Burger King after the company opened a new
restaurant in an Israeli settlement on the West Bank.
American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) is demanding the closure of
the store at Ma'ale Adumim - disputed land which was occupied by
the Israelis during the 1967 war.
The organisation says the settlement, five miles east of Jerusalem
is illegal under international law.
Khalid Turaani, the AMJ's executive director, said: "This
settlement is part of a series of Israeli projects that ring the
city. This ring is generally viewed as an attempt by Israel to consolidate
control over territory it seized in 1967.
"Our community views Burger King's decision to become a party
to illegal occupation with profound distaste."
Burger King says that it is only one of a number of global brands
with a commercial presence in the West Bank.
In a statement, the company said it is "sensitive to all nationalities,
religions and cultures, and it is our policy to be respectful of
the needs of each in providing access to our products".
Spokeswoman Kim Miller said company officials were trying to "encourage
a dialogue" with those involved. "Those conversations
have to take place. We need to gain a better understanding of their
issues," she said.
'Restaurant must close'
The AMJ says that to avoid a boycott Burger King will have to close
down the restaurant and release a statement promising not to open
any other restaurants in occupied land.
The group, which is based in Washington DC, also wants Burger King
to make a donation to help Muslim refugees.
The West Bank, east of Jerusalem, is land disputed between Israel
and the Palestinians.
The two sides are discussing the resumption of negotiations aimed
at achieving a permanent peace agreement and a final disposition
of West Bank territory, some of which has already has been put under
Palestinian administration.
Nine groups, including the Arab American Institute and the Palestinian
American Congress, joined AMJ in protesting against the new Burger
King restaurant.
Burger King has more than 10,000 fast-food outlets world-wide,
including sites in Muslim majority nations of Malaysia, Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Protest
grows against burger giant
BBC News
August 10, 1999
The Arab League is to consider backing a campaign to force the
closure of a fast-food outlet in a West Bank Jewish settlement built
on land seized during the 1967 war.
The American-based company Burger King has franchised a fast food
outlet in Maale Adumim - a settlement of 25,000 residents just east
of Jerusalem and one of the fastest growing in the West Bank.
American Muslims reacted by calling for a worldwide boycott of
Burger King outlets unless the franchise is withdrawn.
The Arab League now says it plans to discuss the matter at a meeting
of foreign ministers next month.
Burger King officials have said the Miami-based company is taking
the issue very seriously and will try to resolve it.
They have said they meant no offence by opening the new restaurant
in a controversial location and plan to meet the executive director
of American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) to discuss the issue.
However critics have said that other US companies - including McDonalds
- have refused to open in areas outside of Israel's 1967 borders.
Khalid Turaani, the AMJ's executive director, said: "Our community
views Burger King's decision to become a party to illegal occupation
with profound distaste."
Roaring trade
In Maale Adumin itself, the burger restaurant is reported to be
busy with customers critical of the boycott threat.
"We shouldn't involve political opinion with food or other
such things. I'm very fond of Burger King," said one settler,
Orna Makov.
Maale Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel says the boycott could hamper
existing peaceful relations between Israelis and Palestinians.
"We are doing our shopping in the nearby Palestinian market,
and they are coming here to our market. Any (attempt) to disturb
these relations between us and the Palestinians will hurt the peace
negotiations," he said.
The West Bank, east of Jerusalem, is land disputed between Israel
and the Palestinians.
The two sides are discussing the resumption of negotiations aimed
at achieving a permanent peace agreement and a final disposition
of West Bank territory, some of which has already has been put under
Palestinian administration.
So far, nine groups, including the Arab American Institute and
the Palestinian American Congress, have joined AMJ in protesting
against the new Burger King restaurant.
Burger King has more than 10,000 fast-food outlets world-wide,
including sites in Muslim majority nations of Malaysia, Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Burger
boycott bites in West Bank
BBC News
August 26, 1999
Facing a worldwide burger boycott by Arab and Muslim groups, fast
food giant Burger King has announced it is closing down a controversial
franchise outlet in the Israeli occupied West Bank.
The Miami-based chain, owned by UK firm Diageo DGEL, said it had
ordered the Israeli franchisee to remove the Burger King logo from
the restaurant immediately.
The dispute focused on a branch of Burger King in the fast growing
settlement of Ma'ale Adumim - built on disputed land occupied by
the Israelis during the 1967 war.
The Palestinians have long argued that such settlements are illegal.
The opening of the restaurant sparked outrage from American-Arab
and American-Muslim groups who said it amounted to support for the
Israeli occupation.
Breach of contract
Burger King said the Israeli company, Rikamor Ltd, had falsely
stated that the restaurant would be located in Israel and as such
was in breach of contract.
Buger King says it does not wish to be seen taking sides
The corporation, the world's second largest food chain after McDonalds,
said it would not approve the opening of restaurants in the West
Bank at such a sensitive time in the peace process.
"Burger King regrets that its name and reputation have become
entangled in matters that have nothing to do with providing quality
food and service to its customers," said David Williams, Burger
King regional president.
The company added that is has "no interest in taking sides
in the Arab-Israeli peace process, except to welcome its early and
mutually acceptable outcome."
Arab outrage
Earlier this month, the case attracted the attention of the Arab
League which said it would discuss the case at a meeting for foreign
ministers in September after a request from Yasser Arafat's Palestinian
Authority.
The growing row had led to calls for a boycott of Burger King,
which has 130 restaurants in the Middle East and aims to move soon
into Lebanon and Jordan.
Shortly after the Burger King announcement Khalid Turaaniof of
the American Moslems for Jerusalem congratulated the corporation
for "doing the right thing."
"Corporations should not do business and investment on land
that is occupied by force and whose original owners have been displaced
into refugee camps," he said.
However, a leading Jewish civil rights group, the Anti-Defamation
League, denounced Burger King's decision as "a blatant capitulation
_ to the outrageous guerrilla tactics employed by American Arab
and American Muslim groups."
Burger
King bows to Muslim pressure - cancels west bank franchise
CAIR Action Alert
Washington, DC
August 26, 1999
Alhamdulillah, In an apparent response to a worldwide Muslim and
Arab boycott, Burger King Corporation today announced that it has
cancelled the contract of a franchise in the occupied West Bank.
On August 5, a coalition of Muslim and Arab organizations* led
by American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ), announced an international
campaign to boycott Burger King restaurants. The coalition called
for the boycott after Burger King ignored Muslim concerns over the
opening of a restaurant in a settlement on Palestinian territory
occupied by Israel. At a news conference today in the Washington,
D.C., coalition representatives called for a lifting of the boycott.
In its statement, Burger King said in part:
"Burger King Corporation today announced that it has cancelled
the right of Rikamor, Ltd., its independent franchisee in Israel,
to operate a Burger King food court counter in Ma'ale Adumim in
the West Bank. Burger King has asked its franchisee to remove
the Burger King brand from the site immediately."
The fast-food giant said it made the decision because of breach
of contract and "misrepresentation" by the Israeli franchisee.
The statement claimed that the franchisee "falsely informed
Burger King that the food court would be located in Israel."
CAIR, a member of the boycott coalition, issued a statement of
its own in reaction to Burger King's decision. The statement by
CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad read as follows:
"We are pleased to see that Burger King decided to respect
international law and the sensitivities of Muslims worldwide. This
courageous step should set a precedent for all corporations considering
a move into territories that have been occupied by force. We would
also like to thank all those in the Muslim world who supported this
successful campaign."
*COALITION MEMBERS: American Muslim Alliance, American
Muslim Council, American Muslim Foundation, American Muslims for
Jerusalem, American Task Force for Palestine, Arab American Institute,
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Muslim Public Affairs
Council, National Association of Arab Americans, Palestinian American
Congress and Partners for Peace.
Of Burgers
and Boycotts
Burger King Becomes Entangled in
Arab-Israeli Debate
ABC News
(contrib. Associated Press)
August 27, 1999
A quiet, unassuming Burger King restaurant may seem like an unlikely
location for the latest chapter in the long-running dispute between
Arabs and Israelis on the West Bank.
But on Thursday, Burger King said it had canceled the rights of
the independent franchisee to operate it, following pressure from
American Muslims.
The restaurant opened four months ago in a new shopping mall in
Maaleh Adumim, a Jewish settlement of 25,000 residents three miles
east of Jerusalem that is located on land Israel captured in the
1967 war.
Palestinians consider Jewish settlements the main obstacle to establishing
their state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. And American Arab and
Muslim groups had threatened to boycott the fast food chain.
Mayor Blasts Decision
But it seems Burger King can do no right. Today, the settlements
mayor expressed anger at Burger Kings decision.
Denouncing the move as a shame and an abomination,
Benny Kashriel blamed Palestinians for initiating the boycott threat
and called on Jews around the world to boycott Burger King.
Its a shame a great company like Burger King giving
up to the boycott of some Arab countries, said Kashriel. They
have to learn from the Coca-Cola company that about 30 years ago
passed the same way. It didnt give up and is now in the Arab
countries. In the Palestinian towns here and the Israeli towns here
[people are] drinking Coca-Cola. [ see
Coca-Cola Boycott ]
Kashriel, who also serves as chairman of the Yesha Council, the
body representing Israeli settlers in the West Bank, called on Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Barak to suspend peace talks with the Palestinians.
A Stupid Thing to Do
Hamburgers and politics should not be linked, Kashriel said, condemning
the decision to shut down the restaurant.
Its really a joke starting to connect food and hamburgers
to international politics, said Kashriel. Its
a stupid thing to do. What does a 10-year-old child, wanting to
enjoy a hamburger, the taste of the hamburger, have to do with the
peace negotiations?
To make matters more confusing, the shopping malls director
denies the restaurant is to close.
I think that this shopping mall and this branch of Burger
King, said Noah Maayan, can be a small and, maybe later,
a big [aid] to the good relationship between us and our neighbor
that lives one mile from here.
In a statement on Thursday, Burger King said the decision to close
the outlet was made purely on a commercial basis
and that it had no interest in taking sides in the Arab-Israeli
peace process.
The date of the closure is still to be decided.
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