Burger King Withdraws from Occupied Territory Amid Boycotts and Protests

Strategic Insights -

Hungry settlers in occupied territory in Israel continued to consume burgers at a Burger King counter, despite the company's announcement that it would remove its brand name from the location. The decision came after pro-Arab groups sought a worldwide boycott of the fast-food chain, citing the Geneva Convention, which forbids the settlement of territory captured in war. The settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim, with over 25,000 residents, is a contentious issue as it lies just outside Jerusalem, on land conquered from Arabs in 1967. The move has sparked reactions from both sides, with pro-Arab groups celebrating the victory and pro-Israeli groups vowing to fight the decision.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pro-Arab groups sought a worldwide boycott of Burger King due to the company's presence in occupied territory, citing the Geneva Convention.
  • Burger King announced it would remove its brand name from the counter in Ma'aleh Adumim's mall, stating the location was "sensitive" in the peace process.
  • The local franchise owner, Rikamor Ltd., denied misrepresenting the location of the restaurant, which is in occupied territory.
  • Pro-Israeli groups, such as the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, deploring Burger King's move and expressing hope that the company will reverse its decision.
  • The settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim is considered occupied territory, with over 25,000 residents, and is a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • The Fourth Geneva Convention forbids the settlement of territory captured in war, and the United Nations has called for Israel to relinquish control of the West Bank.
  • Israel itself has never annexed the West Bank, but has established nearly 150 Jewish settlements and has 170,000 settlers in the region.

Statistics:

  • Burger King has 46 outlets in Israel but 84 in countries such as Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
  • Over 1.5 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, with nearly 170,000 Jewish settlers in the region.
  • The United States officially considers the West Bank "occupied territory."
  • The 1993 Oslo accords laid out a plan for handing over undetermined parts of the West Bank to Palestinian control.

Sources:

  • "Activist Groups Call for Boycott of Burger King" by Larry Kaplow, unavailable, unavailable
  • "Israel and the Palestinians: A Guide to the Mideast Peace Process" by PBS Frontline
  • "West Bank" by Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs