Scarlett Johansson stands tall against Israel boycotters

[Valin]

NY Post:

Benny Avni

January 21, 2014

 

The product is great, and she's tough: Scarlett Johansson is sticking with SodaStream despite PC pressure.

 

One of the sexiest women in America has the PC crowd in a swivet. Scarlett Johansson, you see, is shooting a Super Bowl ad for SodaStream.

 

Huh?

 

As it turns out, SodaStream, the Israel-based booming “make your own soda at home” firm, has a plant in the Jerusalem suburb of Maale Edumim — which is on the “wrong” side of the 1949 ceasefire line.

 

That “green line” lasted for all of 18 years, until the 1967 Six Day War, and every proposed map for Israeli-Palestinian agreement has Maale Edumim on the Israeli side — but Johansson’s critics don’t care.

 

The global blame-Israel lobby long ago elevated that line to an almost holy status of “border”; anything Israeli beyond it is really, really bad.

 

Including SodaStream.

 

(Snip)

[Valin]

Scarlett Johansson stepping down as Oxfam ambassador
1/30/14

Scarlett Johansson is ending her relationship with the humanitarian group Oxford International after being criticized over her support for an Israeli company that operates in the West Bank.

A statement released by Johansson's spokesman Wednesday said the 29-year-old actress has "a fundamental difference of opinion" with the group because it opposes all trade from Israeli settlements, saying they are illegal and deny Palestinian rights.

"Scarlett Johansson has respectfully decided to end her ambassador role with Oxfam after eight years," the statement said. "She and Oxfam have a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. She is very proud of her accomplishments and fundraising efforts during her tenure with Oxfam."

Oxfam International also released a statement on its website, saying, "Oxfam has accepted Scarlett Johansson's decision to step down after eight years as a Global Ambassador and we are grateful for her many contributions."

 

(Snip)

 

________________________________________________________

 

http://youtu.be/zxq4ziu-wrI

[Valin]

SodaStream ignores anti-Israeli critics to quench Palestinian thirst for jobs
Paul Alster
January 31, 2014


HAIFA, Israel – Jews and Palestinians might think an Israeli company providing hundreds of jobs Palestinian territory is a way to promote peace and prosperity, but some international groups think they know better.

SodaStream, the company whose home-based soda-making machines have become an American sensation, is under pressure to close down a factory in the West Bank, where more than 500 Palestinians work, reportedly earning up to 10 times the area’s prevailing wage. The campaign has reached a fever pitch, after Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson ended her alliance with an international aid group miffed that she would endorse the company. But the boss of SodaStream said he's not going anywhere just because some global critics want him out.

(Snip)

 

Those Darn Jews..Hiring Palestinians.... How Dare They. And i bet their making money to!

This Must Be Stopped!

[Valin]

Thank You, Scarlett Johansson

Judith Levy

2/4/14

 

·Blue Yeti asked me yesterday whether we were aware over here in Israel of the Scarlett Johansson-SodaStream-Super Bowl ad business. Indeed we are. Johansson has catapulted overnight from the "Jewish, yet hot!" category to beloved national icon. Here's the lead sentence from an article in Haaretz about the brouhaha:

 

(Snip)

 

 

The photo above was released by The Israel Project (TIP), a pro-Israel nonprofit that posted this on its website:

 

 

Dear Scarlett -- Thank you for standing up for Israel, for peace, and for the truth. You told the anti-Israel bullies they were wrong. Your courage in the face of anti-Israel hate is inspiring. Thank you!

A Facebook page called "I Support Scarlett Johansson" has 22,000 signatures and counting, and another page, "Creative Community for Peace," lets readers post messages of support for Scarlett that (allegedly) will go directly to her.

 

All this might seem a bit of an overreaction, but I'd dispute that. This is a big deal. The Post hit on the reason why Johansson's stand was so noteworthy: she just didn't back down. She displayed extraordinary backbone when it would have been far easier to retreat. She stood up to the bully in the schoolyard, with all the risk that entails.

 

(Snip)