Scarlett Johansson ad becomes online meme for Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The web has been flooded with images featuring Scarlett Johansson Photoshopped into some grim pictures of West Bank territories. A major political meme these days has been inspired by the actress’s cooperation with an Israel-based company.
The images appeared following announcements of Johansson becoming
brand ambassador for SodaStream, a firm which operates a factory
in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.
Pro-Palestinian activists have always rejected any idea of
Israeli enterprises operating on the land they want back. They
have thus blasted the Hollywood celebrity for her deal with
SodaStream. Much of the indignation spilled out into the web in
the form of reworked images of the company’s ads.
Scarlett Johansson enjoys a refreshment in the employee lounge at #SodaStream's West Bank factory: pic.twitter.com/FRDns5ZwjL
— Abe Greenhouse (@grinhoyz) January 26, 2014
#ScarlettJohansson’s #SodaStream Endorsement Deal Conflicts w/ Charity Work http://t.co/cY4rxILPuv@nytimes@Oxfampic.twitter.com/QUwmXQoDuR
— Maie ⭐ (@Maie_AD) January 26, 2014
Johansson also came under fire from the poverty-fighting
international humanitarian group Oxfam, she has been ambassador
for since 2005.
“Oxfam respects the independence of our ambassadors,”
the group’s official statement reads. “However Oxfam believes
that businesses that operate in settlements further the ongoing
poverty and denial of rights of the Palestinian communities that
we work to support. Oxfam is opposed to all trade from Israeli
settlements, which are illegal under international law.”
Scarlett Johansson "This #Sodastream is going to look so great in my kitchen" @Oxfamhttp://t.co/cH7FNkT12d#BDSpic.twitter.com/L9UClkEhD3
— Stephanie Westbrook (@stephinrome) January 25, 2014
Scarlett Johansson talks of equal rights...under occupation?! @Oxfamhttp://t.co/H6Zu2OWL5H#BDS#NoScarJopic.twitter.com/IWpMhBIiks
— Stephanie Westbrook (@stephinrome) January 25, 2014
The actress has however defended her controversial contract with
SodaStream.
“I remain a supporter of economic cooperation and social
interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine,” she
said in a statement published by the Huffington Post.
“SodaStream is a company that is not only committed to the
environment, but to building a bridge to peace between Israel and
Palestine, supporting neighbors working alongside each other,
receiving equal pay, equal benefits and equal rights. That is
what is happening in their Ma’ale Adumim factory every working
day.”
Despite Johansson also praising Oxfam, the group reacted by
saying it was “considering the implications of her new
statement and what it means for Ms. Johansson’s role as an Oxfam
global ambassador.”
SodaStream employs 550 Palestinians at its West Bank factory and
echoes Johansson’s statement by saying they work on equal terms
with their Israeli co-workers.
