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CNN Live Saturday
Palestinians Boycotting Coke
Aired May 18, 2002 - 22:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: A growing number of Palestinians are waging a battle against the U.S., boycotting American made products. But as CNN's Rula Amin found, Palestinians could be hurt by the strategy to hurt U.S. businesses.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At Staunt's (ph) Bar and Coffee shop, customers are turning away from one of their favorite drinks. These high school girls go to the American French school. Their favorite sport is basketball. And their favorite drink used to be Coca-Cola.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because Coke is American, and because Americans basically finance Israelis with all the tanks and the airplanes and all the -- so it's basically helping the Israelis with their equipment to destroy our country.
AMIN: Their new favorite drink, they switched to from Coke, is made from the syrup from another U.S. company, Hershey. Still, they say they're trying to make a point.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're not paying money to the Americans or the Israelis that they take in one hand and give it to the Israelis in the other -- yes, in the other hand.
AMIN: The boycott for U.S. made products seems to be gaining momentum here, especially following Israel's latest military campaign. Then people came face to face with the strength of the Israeli army and the value of the United States strong support of Israel. These young men say they have stopped smoking Malboro cigarettes and switched to these French made ones.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Through translator) People like us feel we need to do something to contribute. I am not a fighter with a gun, but there are other ways to fight.
AMIN: At this supermarket, Marboro cigarette sales have dropped more than 60 percent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (through translator); Buyers put an effort to find out where their products are made. If it's the U.S., many times they won't buy it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know that every time I will pay for the American products will be paid for Israel.
AMIN: Coke is one of the main symbols of America. But Coca-Cola is produced here in Ramallah. Coca-Cola, the mother company, owns only 15 percent of the shares. The rest is owned by Palestinian businessmen like Zahir Huri, who also holds U.S. citizenship. He insists this factory is a national company. It provides work for about 300 Palestianians. Zahir Huri is launching a preemptive campaign, talking to the local media.
ZAHIR HURI: Coca-Cola is a company which I'm proud to be associated with, because it has helped us.
AMIN: But he acknowledges the difficulty of getting that message across.
HURI: People are furious of what's happening today at the policy level. And that's one way to let their steam out.
AMIN: Most products on the shelf here are imported. Many are Israeli products and American, and few nationally made.
(on camera): Basically, people don't have many alternatives to Israeli and American made products. But store owners are telling us more and more people now are demanding to have more European products. Europe is perceived here as having a more balanced policy towards this conflict.
Rula Amin, CNN, Ramallah.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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