Below is the text of an open letter to Burger King CEO Dennis Malamatinas from ADC President Hala Maksoud about reports that BK‘s Israeli franchisee, Rikamor Ltd. continues to present its restaurant in the Israeli settlement of Ma‘ale Adumim as a “Burger King.”
Open Letter to Burger King:
Feb 24, 2000
Dennis Malamatinas CEO, Burger King
By fax: (305) 378-7262
Dear Mr. Malamatinas:
I write to you on behalf of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the nation‘s largest Arab-American grassroots organization, to express our concern over persistent reports that the “Burger King” in Ma‘ale Adumim in the occupied West Bank remains open.
This is in spite of your courageous and principled decision to instruct Burger King‘s Israeli franchisee, Rikamor Ltd., to remove Burger King‘s name from its restaurant in this Israeli settlement.
It is our understanding that Burger King was never properly informed of the location of Ma‘ale Adumim, and was led to believe that this is a part of Israel rather than occupied territory. We were reassured that Burger King did not knowingly participate in illegal settlement and was deceived by its Israeli franchisee. We were also reassured that Burger King quickly moved to order the closure of the Ma‘ale Adumim restaurant as a Burger King.
We are disturbed, however, that Rikamor appears to be ignoring your instructions, and seems to be maintaining its restaurant in Ma‘ale Adumim as a “Burger King.” We urge you to take all necessary legal steps to ensure that Burger King is no longer operating in the Occupied Territories. Your statement on the issue this summer rightly pointed to the importance of Burger King‘s reputation, which was restored by your commitment to remove Burger King from Israeli settlements. Please bear in mind that the settlement movement represents an extremist viewpoint at odds with US policy and the consensus of the international community and international law.
We thank Burger King for having acted promptly to correct this situation once the full facts and implications became clear, and we sincerely hope that you will continue to take all necessary legal steps to ensure that your instructions to your Israeli franchisee are, in fact, carried out.
We look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this important matter.
Yours,
Hala Maksoud, Ph.D.
President