In the wake of geopolitical tensions, iconic products often become political symbols and targets to express public discontent. This phenomenon has been observed since the Iraq War in 2003, when a McDonald's in Beirut was bombed, and during heightened hostility towards Muslims after the 9/11 attacks, which led to the introduction of Mecca-Cola in Tunisia as an alternative to American Coca-Cola.
Subheading: Turkey's Parliamentary Boycott
According to Reuters, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey announced on November 7 that products from companies supporting Israel would no longer be sold in the parliament's restaurants, cafés, and tea houses. The decision, made by Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, aims to echo the sentiments of the Turkish public and protest against companies that support Israel's actions against civilians in Gaza. While the specific brands targeted by the boycott were not disclosed, sources within the Turkish parliament revealed that Coca-Cola drinks and Nestlé coffee have been removed from the menu. However, there was no detailed explanation of how these companies are supporting Israel's military operations in Gaza.
Turkey's parliament is the first official institution to join the boycott movement, which has seen universities and government agencies in various Turkish provinces announce similar measures against Israeli products. Osman Nuri Kabaktepe, the Istanbul chair of Turkey's ruling party, has called for a boycott of Israeli goods until a Palestinian state is established, extending the boycott to include European and American brands, particularly those from the United States.
Subheading: Widespread Boycotts
McDonald's, one of America's most recognized brands, was among the first to face boycotts. Following the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict, McDonald's in Israel announced free meals for the Israeli Defense Forces, sparking protests across the Arab world.
McDonald's outlets in countries like Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Kuwait issued statements emphasizing that the decision by Israel's McDonald's was independent of other franchises. McDonald's in Kuwait, the UAE, and Qatar also announced donations to aid Gaza.
McDonald's Corporation took to social media to clarify that it does not support or fund any side in the conflict, and the actions of local partners are not endorsed by the company, stating that their hearts are with all families affected by the conflict.
Despite this statement, McDonald's remains entangled in the boycott. The Palestinian BDS Movement has included McDonald's, along with other well-known Western brands like Pizza Hut, Burger King, Carrefour, Siemens, and AXA, in their boycott list, making the #BDSMovement a trending hashtag on social platforms.
In Indonesia, social media listed 121 brands to boycott, including Nestlé and Unilever, although the posts did not provide evidence of these companies supporting Israel.
Beyond social media, a new Google Chrome extension, "PalestinePact," has been released, which automatically blocks ads for boycotted products. In the physical realm, countries like Kuwait have erected billboards in busy areas featuring injured Gazan children with captions asking, "Did you kill a Palestinian today?" along with the hashtag #boycotters.
The boycotts are having an impact. American coffee brand Pura Vida and French pastry shop Maitre Choux have closed their branches in Doha, Qatar. Egyptian local soda brand Spiro Spathis saw a 350% surge in sales, and protests have erupted outside several McDonald's in Alexandria.
However, as with all boycotts, there are repercussions for local business activities. The Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce warned on Facebook that boycotting these brands would only harm Egyptians. Most of the boycotted Western brands operate in Egypt under franchise agreements, employing locals and paying taxes to Egyptian authorities. With the Egyptian branches contributing less than 1% to the brands' global revenues, the boycotts are unlikely to affect the parent companies significantly.
The Federation has urged the Egyptian public to cease the boycotts to avoid further harming Egyptian workers and investors.
