Lebanon - Protestors Hit Beirut Starbucks |
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News Source: AP
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A protester from a leftist group, center, shouts anti-Israel slogans outside of Starbucks coffee shop during a protest in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010.Lebanon - Protesters from a leftist group shouted anti-Israel slogans outside of a Starbucks coffee shop Wednesday during a protest in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
Demonstrators tried to block the entrance to the shop, thereby causing customers inside to flee. The protesters said they targeted the store because they claim that Howard Schultz, the company’s CEO, chairman and president, donates money to the Israeli military.
During the protest, one of the demonstrators attempted to chain himself inside the coffee shop.
Starbucks has been inactive in Israel since 2003, after the branches it opened in the country did not show any profits in two years.
The company’s CEO, Schultz, is known for his pro-Israel statements in recent years. At the height of the second Intifada, he delivered a speech at a Seattle Conference and condemned the Palestinians for not putting an end to terrorism.
Schultz later softened his messages in response to criticism leveled at him by various Arab and Muslim elements.
Similar protests already took place in the Lebanese capital as early as in 2002, when local students were planning to target various Western companies they accused of supporting Israel.
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Read Comments (6) — Post Yours »
1
Feb 10, 2010 at 06:03 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Actually, there is a starbucks in eretz yisroel, in the airport in ammanm jordan. (Its eiver layardein).
2
Feb 10, 2010 at 06:04 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
As the chairman of a publicly traded company (even though he is the biggest single shareholder) Shultz has a legal obligation to avoid political controversy which would adversely affect his company's earnings. This is a delicate balancing between his personal views and what is best for his shareholders.
3
Feb 10, 2010 at 06:06 PM Come on Says:Report as Inappropriate
This guy Schultz should close his Arab branches. These chamorim don't even deserve fresh brewed coffee.
4
Feb 10, 2010 at 09:11 PM si girl Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ As the chairman of a publicly traded company (even though he is the biggest single shareholder) Shultz has a legal obligation to avoid political controversy which would adversely affect his company's earnings. This is a delicate balancing between his personal views and what is best for his shareholders. ”
You are may be right in general but if it concerns you personally it is very hard to balance. The situation in Israel concerns every Jew personally and goes to the core of our existence as a nation and individually. I think that compromise on that level destroys you as a human being. So Shultz did the right thing.
5
Feb 10, 2010 at 09:36 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I'm a little bit confused, that guy protesting looks like he's wearing a starbucks employee uniform.
6
Feb 11, 2010 at 12:21 PM lazer Says:Report as Inappropriate
i think you mean right wing because thats the norm (anti israel )if they where left they would be pro peace