| Starbucks vs. Israel | |||
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| Netlore Archive: Is it true that specialty coffee chain Starbucks has closed all its stores in Israel, while still doing business in surrounding Arab countries? | |||
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Email example contributed by an AOL user, 2 May 2003:
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Subject: STARBUCKS CLOSING ALL STORES IN ISRAEL Just heard that Starbucks Coffee is closing all their stores in Israel.. Starbucks says that it is a business decision not a political decision. They ARE NOT CLOSING any stores in the Arab or Muslim countries. Let us as Jewish People, let them know that we will not patronize their stores for their position on Israel. When they lose enough business, maybe they will get the message that we a a Jewish population will not tolerate their actions. We have to get the word out, so please send this message to any and all Jewish people you know. Thank you for your help. LETS GET THE WORD OUT NOW. |
Email example contributed by an AOL user, 10 May 2003:
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Subject: Starbucks & Israel Please read the following regarding Starbucks and think twice before giving them your money next time. I am sending along an article that was sent to me by a friend To confirm the statements, I called this telephone number myself and spoke to Starbucks customer relations department. She confirmed with me that Starbucks had indeed dissolved their contract with the Joint Venture and they had closed their stores in Israel. She also said "It was a business decision and they would return to the market in the future." When I asked her if they still had their stores in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, she said that they did. This article is 100% true. For verification, or to voice your opinion of their decision, you can call Starbuck's international at: 1-800-STARBUC PLEASE READ THE ARTICLE BELOW AND THEN PASS THIS ON.... It is time for all Americans to boycott Starbucks Coffee Spread the word on this. They are stopping business relations with Israel, because like so many companies, people, and leaders in the world, they do not have the moral values or courage needed to do otherwise. Add this to the fact that Starbucks does tons of business in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, as well as other radical Arab countries who are working to destroy America. Where they will not pull out of and it makes it clear their stand is with the enemies of Israel and of America. Standing is something that takes moral value and courage today.And their stand indicates the lack of quality of their product. Starbucks has chosen. NOW is the time for us to choose to boycott. Let's call on everyone we can to boycott Starbucks. Spread the word. |
Comments: It's true that Starbucks closed its six outlets in Israel on April 1, 2003, citing "operational challenges" including Israel's faltering economy. It's also true that Starbucks continues to operate in other Middle Eastern countries, such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
What is not true, company officials insist, is the implication that the closures were due to political pressures or "taking sides" with Israel's enemies.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, which has investigated the matter, the decision was indeed strictly business. "There is no evidence that more nefarious considerations contributed to this decision," the organization concluded.
Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz — characterized by the New York Times as "a Jewish American who has long been supportive of Jewish organizations and causes in the United States and in Israel" — says the company will return to Israel in due course.
Sources and further reading:
Starbucks Pulls Out of Israel
Associated Press, 2 April 2003Starbucks Sees Overseas Profit, Despire Glitches
Reuters, 22 May 2003Starbucks Rumor False
Anti-Defamation LeagueCounteracting the Internet Rumor
New York Times, 2 June 2003
Last updated: 06/02/03
