Starbucks and Israeli interests

The following text examines Starbucks' activities as part of an international, but mostly U.S.-based, pro-Israel lobby. The text includes references compiled by a UK-based think-tank known as Innovative Minds

I. Starbucks' Hidden Interests

Howard Schultz, an American citizen, is the chairman of Starbucks. In 2002, Schultz made a speech blaming the Palestinian people for the deadlock in Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and suggested that the Palestinian resistance against Israel was a "manifestation of anti-Semitism". [1]

In 1998, Schultz was honoured by the Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah and presented with the "Israel's 50th Anniversary Friend of Zion Tribute Award." Aish HaTorah describes itself as an "apolitical international network of Jewish education centres." But, as shown below, the organization's actions suggest that it advocates Zionist (Israeli) supremacy in the Middle East:

  • Aish HaTorah is connected to hard-line right-wing military personnel in Israel and has funded arms fairs chaired by the Israeli military general Shaul Mofaz. According to Israeli sources, the purpose of the fairs is to "strengthen the special connection between the American, European and Israeli defense industries" and "showcase the newest Israeli innovations in defense."

  • Aish HaTorah funds the pro-Zionist website honestreporting.com. [2]

  • Aish HaTorah produced a video entitled "The Islamic Connection to Jerusalem", which begins with a declaration about the "original Jewish connection" to Jerusalem and downplays Jerusalem's non-Jewish past, ostensibly to convince the viewer that the 20th century, mass-resettlement of Jews to the city and Israel's annexation of the city in 1967 (during the Six Day War) was not any sort of invasion or taking. A second video produced by Aish HaTorah is entitled "The Occupied Territories - A Primer". It argues that the West Bank and Gaza should belong to Israel and, for now, these territories should be called "disputed territories."

Although Schultz's spending record is private, the Starbucks chairman gives support to Israel and the Zionist cause. Gideon Meir, the official in charge of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s public relations efforts, had this to say about Schultz:
"...the key to Israel’s long-term PR success is on the campuses of North America and Europe. Wealthy Jews like Howard Schultz, the owner of the Starbucks chain, are helping with student projects, including seminars held in both Israel and North America, in which students hear Israeli presentations on the crisis...." [3]

II. Starbucks: "We support our troops"

In 2004, Starbucks' Chief Executive Officer Jim Donald announced that the company was planning to donate 50,000 pounds of free coffee to the American troops stationed in the Middle East. [4] Starbucks has said that it supports the troops in Iraq because they are "protecting Americans and our values of freedom and democracy." But sending troops to the Middle East also benefits Israel and Zionism:

  • The American-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq deposed of two regimes that were critical of, and opposed to, Israel.

  • With the regime changes in Iraq and Afghanistan, the old Afghani and Iraqi armed forces were abolished. The Iraqi military had missiles capable of reaching Israel and Israel's leaders saw this as a security threat.

  • Obviously, Israel does not want Iraq or Afghanistan to develop into states which reject Israel's territorial claims or support the Palestinian resistance, Hamas or Hezbollah. Israel does not want to see a powerful state that can build weapons which can reach Israel, either. Yet the Israelis are not the ones fighting to prevent these events from occurring; it is our children who are patrolling the Middle East to fight the Islamists who do not like Israel and want power in Iraq or Afghanistan. Thus, it is primarily Goy blood being shed to preserve a balance of power that is favorable to Israel. Small wonder the pro-Israel crowd "supports our troops..."

  • If the balance of power is preserved, Israel will continue to hold sway over the Middle East. Israel's weapons cache is already deadlier than anything Iraq possessed (or was said to possess) - thus, Israel has the edge.

  • If Israel retains its military edge, it can continue to use force to bully the Palestinian people and keep them "in their place". Against a strong Israeli military, Palestinian efforts to rise against Israeli oppression are futile. No state will come to the aid of the Palestinians because, it too, would be crushed.

  • Israel's power also discourages support for those who want the borders redrawn in the Middle East. These opposition groups, like Hezbollah or Hamas, tend to engage in violent activities against Israel, and in response, the Zionists have repeatedly unleashed their force in full fury, resulting in Arab civilian deaths. Thus, the threat of the powerful Zionist fist functions as a deterrent, limiting support for revisionist groups like Hezbollah or Hamas.

  • As long as America continues to see Israel's enemies as America's enemies, the American public will continue to eagerly finance and support Israel, and Israel's military.

III. Starbucks: part of a 'fifth column'

In addition to Starbucks, there are several corporations and company partnerships with leaders who advocate Israel-friendly U.S. foreign policy and procure support for Israel. The list of businesses includes: Coca-Cola (Fruitopia, Fanta, Sprite, Sunkist...), Revlon,McDonald's, Motorola, Dannon, Nokia, Estée Lauder, Intel, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal, Giorgio Armani, Vichy, Garnier, Siemens, Maybelline, Ralph Lauren, Nestle, Sara Lee (Hanes, Playtex, Champion, Leggs, Douwe Egberts, Bryan, DIM, Ambi Pur, Bali, Superior Coffee, Just My Size, Kiwi, Maison, Outer Banks, Wonderbra...), The Limited Inc. (Express stores, Structure, Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works...), Kimberly-Clark (Kleenex, Kotex, Huggies...), Apax Partners & Co. Ltd, Delta Galil (Barbie, Victoria's Secret, GAP, Banana Republic, Structure, J-Crew, JC Penny, Pryca, Lindex, DIM, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Playtex, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss...), Estee Lauder (Aramis, Clinique, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger...), Marks & Spencer, Timberland and Home Depot.

AOL Time Warner, Disney and News Corporation, as well as their subsidiaries in broadcast media (Fox News, CNN, Sky, Star, Phoenix, Granada, CNBC) and print media (New York Times, The Sun, The Times, The Telegraph, Herald Sun, Independent, Sunday Mail, New York Post...), are also part of the pro-Israel lobby. These media giants present an image of events in the Middle East that is friendly to Israel. But should we be surprised? News Corporation's owner, Rupert Murdoch, is a member of the Bilderberg Group, a major player in pro-Israel, neo-con planning. Furthermore, Murdoch is just as big of an Israel supporter as AOL Time Warner and Disney, which are both Jewish-owned.

Since 1954, the Zionist crowd has also had an official lobby to directly influence affairs in Washington. The name of that lobby is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC for short. Fortune magazine lists AIPAC as "the second-most powerful influence group in Washington."

The New York Times has called AIPAC the "most important organization affecting America's relationship with Israel." Some of the biggest names in politics, including John McCain, John Kerry, the Clintons and the Bush family, have received support from AIPAC in their political campaigns. In return, these figures have all vowed to support AIPAC and the Zionists during their respective terms of office.

Meanwhile, thanks to the influence of the pro-Israel lobby, U.S. tax dollars are being used to fund Israel's military. Thus, it is ordinary Americans who are paying the price to keep Israel armed and dangerous - and in more ways than one. Aside from footing the bill, ordinary Americans are also paying the price because their blood is being spilled in the Middle East in wars which help preserve the current Middle Eastern balance of power.

So why do Schultz and Starbucks "support our troops"? Is it really because the company thinks the war is about "spreading democracy and freedom" and eliminating America's enemies? Can Americans trust that the pro-Israel crowd has the best interests of the United States in mind instead of Israel's best interests? Is it just a coincidence that some of the Iraq War's biggest supporters happen to be among the pro-Israel crowd? These are important questions that every American should be asking. American lives, wealth and well-being are all at stake.



IV. Endnotes and further information:



1 "Starbucks CEO says anti-Semitism on the rise Howard Schultz warns American Jews against complacency," reported by Elisa Hahn. King 5 (Seattle), 04/04/2002 http://www.king5.com/localnews/NW_040402WABschultz.43d45a4b.html

Divisions within the Jewish community were on display Thursday in Seattle as Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz criticized Palestinian inaction in the Middle East while others protested the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands."If you leave this synagogue tonight and go back to your home and ignore this, then shame on us," Howard Schultz told a crowded temple of Jewish Americans on Seattle's Capitol Hill. Schultz warned other Jews against sitting back and doing nothing.

"What is going on in the Middle East is not an isolated part of the world. The rise of anti-Semitism is at an all time high since the 1930's," he said. "The Palestinians aren't doing their job they're not stopping terrorism."

While reaction inside the temple to Schultz's remarks grew from a warm reception to a standing ovation, the mood outside the temple was different. A handful of Jews gathered there to protest the Israeli government's actions of late and their occupation of Palestinian lands. There were similar sentiments Thursday at Seattle's Westlake Center.

"We only get the side that talks about Palestinians as terrorists. As if all the civilians right now living in a state of siege and terror are terrorists and they're not," said protester Alethea Mundy, whose younger brother is in Bethlehem doing relief work for Palestinian refugees. She's worried about her brother, but realizes that everything is relative. "This is what the Palestinians live with every day, two weeks is nothing for my brother.
2 Israel 50th Anniversary Friend of Zion Tribute Award Howard Schultz was presented with "The Israel 50th Anniversary Friend of Zion Tribute Award" by the The Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah in August 27, 1998. According to the Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah, "The Friends of Zion award salutes leaders who have played key roles in promoting close alliance between the United States and Israel."

3 "Losing the Media Battle," Jerusalem Report. April 22, 2002. http://www.jrep.com/Israel/Article-0.html

4 "Starbucks, Red Cross 'Bring a Bit of Home' to Overseas Troops", by Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service. Nov. 9, 2004. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=24883