SodaStream - an Agent of Oppression or a Catalyst for Peace?

by Sally Zahav


Lately there has been some heated discussion about the actress Scarlett Johansson's association with SodaStream.

From latimes.com:

Johansson addressed the criticism in a statement to the Huffington Post on Friday, saying, “I stand behind the SodaStream product and am proud of the work that I have accomplished at Oxfam as an ambassador for over eight years.”

“While I never intended on being the face of any social or political movement, distinction,  separation or stance as part of my affiliation with SodaStream, given the amount of noise surrounding that decision, I'd like to clear the air,” she said.

“I remain a supporter of economic cooperation and social interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine.... As part of my efforts as an ambassador for Oxfam, I have witnessed first-hand that progress is made when communities join together and work alongside one another and feel proud of the outcome of that work in the quality of their product and work environment, in the pay they bring home to their families and in the benefits they equally receive.”

Oxfam said it was “considering the implications” of her statement and “what it means for Ms. Johansson's role as an Oxfam global ambassador.”

SodaStream is an Israeli company situated in Ma'ale Adumim's Mishor Edomim Industrial Park, in the region of Judea. It traces its beginnings as a community from 1975.

You may have heard it said that this "settlement" (population 40,000) is "illegal". But even if you don't believe that G-d bestowed that part of the land of Israel on the Jews, according to experts in international law, the worst possible characterization that can reasonably be given to Ma'ale Adumim - and other communities in Judea and Samaria - vis a vis their legal status, is that they are situated in disputed (not occupied) territory. That is, both Israel and the Palestinian Authority claim rights to the territories, and no definitive sovereignty has yet been assigned to them.

If you want to learn the undistorted facts, this is a good place to start:

Here is a short video produced by SodaStream, showing how Muslims and Jews, Israelis and Palestinians work together for everyone's mutual benefit.





What is the true motivation of those people who push for BDS (boycott,divestment, sanctions) against Israel? Does it seem to you that they are motivated by a desire for peace or a love for Palestinians? Or is their real agenda purely and simply to harm Israel and its ventures?


Sally Zahav

Source: Middle East and Terrorism Blog

Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.