Starbucks and Israeli interests

The following was taken from a report by a UK-based think tank known as Innovative Minds. The report examines Starbucks' activities as part of an international, but mostly U.S.-based, pro-Israel lobby.

Starbucks' Hidden Interests



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

In 1998, Schultz was honoured by the Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah with the "Israel's 50th Anniversary Friend of Zion Tribute Award." Although the Aish HaTorah describes itself as an "apolitical international network of Jewish education centres," its actions suggest otherwise.

• The Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah has connections to hard-line military personnel in Israel and has funded arms fairs chaired by Israeli military general, Shaul Mofaz. The fairs seek to "strengthen the special connection between the American, European and Israeli defense industries" and "showcase the newest Israeli innovations in defense."

• The Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah funds the Zionist propaganda website "honestreporting.com."[2]
  
  
• One video produced by Aish HaTorah, entitled "The Islamic Connection to Jerusalem," starts "The Islamic connection begins in the 7th century, thousands of years after the original Jewish connection..." and continues to belittle Jerusalem's non-Jewish past, serving as propaganda to justify the 20th century Jewish migrations into the city and the Israeli state's annexation of the city during the Six Day War in 1967. Also featured is "The Occupied Territories - A Primer", which argues that the West Bank and Gaza belong to Israel and, for the time being, should be called "disputed territories."
  

Although Schultz's spending record is private, it has been said that Schultz donates a considerable portion of his earnings to Israel.

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]

Starbucks: "We support our troops"

In 2004, Starbucks' Chief Executive Officer Jim Donald announced that the company planned 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." However, sending troops to the Middle East also benefits Israel:

• The American-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq deposed of two regimes that were critical of, and opposed to, Israel.
  
  
• With the regime changes, the Afghani and Iraqi armed forces were abolished. The Iraqi military had missiles which were capable of striking Israel and Israel saw this as a security threat.
  
  
• Since the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, a coalition of U.S.-led forces has been patrolling the Middle East to fight insurgents who want to depose of the newly-installed systems in Iraq and Afghanistan. Should the U.S.-led coalition fail to stop the insurgents and an uprising similar to the Iranian Revolution take form in either of these states, the opposition to Israel’s unchecked power the Middle East, Israel's treatment of the Palestinians and Israel's use of military force as a diplomatic weapon could be reorganized into a state body that would represent a counterbalance to Israeli power in the Middle East- much like Iran does today. Note that it is the Americans, British, Australians, Canadians, and others who are doing the patrolling, not the Israelis. That means it is primarily Goy blood that is being shed to preserve a state of affairs that is favorable to Israel.
  
  
• If the current state of affairs is preserved, Israel will continue to enjoy a stronger military than that of its neighbors. Israel's weapons cache is deadlier than anything Iraq possessed or was thought to possess and includes nukes.
  
  Israel has used the threat of force as a tool to discourage Arab support for Hamas, Hezbollah and other organizations which seek to redraw the map of the Middle East. In response to the violent activities of these groups, Israel has responded viciously against entire Arab populations - and with little regard for civilian life, as was the case in Lebanon.
  
  
• If Israel retains the power it has had, it can continue to use force to bully the Palestinians and keep them "in their place". Against Israel's military juggernaut, the individuals of Palestine know it is futile to try and resist.
  
  
• If American troops in the Middle East help Israel to retain its regional power, Israel's borders will remain as they are and the Israeli state will continue to rule over the disputed lands it currently possesses.
  
  
• 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 – just like during the Cold War.
  

Starbucks: part of a 'fifth column'

Although it is only a rumor that Starbucks finances the Zionist cause, it is a fact that Starbucks lobbies for an Israel-friendly U.S. foreign policy and reaches out to the American public to try and procure support for Israel. There are several other companies which share all or some of the same tendencies: Apax Partners & Co Ltd, Coca-Cola, Dannon, Delta Galil, Estée Lauder, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal, Nestle, Marks & Spencer, Timberland, Home Depot and Revlon are a few of the more popular consumer names.

AOL Time Warner, Disney and News Corporation (as well as subsidiaries, including The New York Times and Fox News) are also a part of the pro-Israel lobby. These companies are the ones which are responsible for Israel's positive portrayal in print and broadcast media. Note that News Corporation's owner, Rupert Murdoch, is a member of the Bilderburg Group, a major player in pro-Israeli neo-con planning. Murdoch's News Corporation is just as big of an Israel supporter as AOL Time Warner and Disney, which are both Jewish-owned.

Additionally, since 1954, the pro-Israel crowd has 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. The New York Times has called AIPAC the "most important organization affecting America's relationship with Israel." Fortune magazine lists AIPAC as "the second-most powerful influence group in Washington." The organization has lent its support to some of the biggest names in politics, including John McCain, John Kerry, the Clintons and the Bushes. In return, these political figures have become lobbyists themselves - advocates for pro-Israeli policy once they have taken office.

Sadly, the pro-Israel crowd seems to regard America as its sacrificial lamb; even without taking into consideration that, under peculiar circumstances, American troops are being sacrificed in wars that, as it "just so happens", eliminate Israel's enemies and secure Israel’s regional supremacy, the fact remains that U.S. tax dollars are being used to fund Israel's military and AIPAC is luring politicians into catering to the pro-Israel lobby. Note that, under these circumstances, it is ordinary Americans who are paying the price for the pro-Israel lobby's loyalties and footing the bill to keep Israel armed and dangerous. Note that some of the Iraq War's biggest supporters are "coincidentally" among the pro-Israel crowd, and also note that, again, it is ordinary Americans who are paying the price for the war - in blood. 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 America really believe that the pro-Israel crowd has the best interests of the United States in mind? These are important questions that every American should be asking.

Further details and 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 protestor 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