McDonald’s is becoming a focal point in the Israel-Hamas war as Israeli and Arab-world McDonald’s franchisees fund different sides, and as McDonald’s locations get vandalized in Lebanon and Turkey by pro-Palestine supporters.
Once upon a time, in the aftermath of the Cold War, it was considered a piece of foreign policy wisdom to say that “No two countries that both have a McDonald’s have ever fought a war against each other.” The phrase first appeared in a 1996 op-ed by Thomas L. Friedman in The New York Times, and later became known as the “Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention.” It was invoked to describe the peace-bringing promise of capitalist globalization, guided by America and pro-democracy NGOs, as opposed to the contentious nature of communism, fascism, and various forms of reactionary fundamentalism.
But the McDonalds-world-order seems to be coming to an end. As Seva Gunitsky, an associate professor of political science at University of Toronto, wrote on X:
“1990s: no two states with McDonalds have ever fought a war
2020: two rival McDonalds wage intra-corporate proxy war.”
1990s: no two states with McDonalds have ever fought a war
2020s: two rival McDonalds wage intra-corporate proxy war https://t.co/wv0qOlu53b
— Seva (@SevaUT) October 15, 2023
McDonald’s franchisees have entered into the Israel-Hamas war as financial backers. The McDonald’s Israel franchisee has released statements in support of the Israeli side of the war and has launched an aid campaign to support the country as it engages in military exchanges with the Gaza Strip. The branch has reportedly donated thousands of meals to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel and hospitals.
In response, McDonald’s Oman said it donated “$100,000 towards the relief efforts for the people of Gaza.”
The Omani branch brought attention to the fact that the donations made by the franchisee in Israel “was an individual and private act and not with the approval or direction of the international company or any other licensee, especially our Arab world.”
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Regardless, McDonald’s locations are now being ransacked by pro-Palestine mobs due to the perception that the entire corporation is behind the Israeli aid campaign.
A McDonald’s in Tyre, Lebanon was pillaged by pro-Palestinian groups protesting its alleged support for Israel. They arrived on scooters and motorcycles waving Palestinian flags. McDonald’s Lebanon has responded by stressing they are not funding Israel.
Protesters in #Lebanon attacked McDonald's because McDonald support Israel.#McDonalds #McDonalds #BaptistHospital #Palestine #Gaza #GazaUnderAttack #Turkey #Kurecik #IsraelisEvil #IsraelPalestineWar #Hamas #Iran #Explosion pic.twitter.com/arGRZrPDiN
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) October 18, 2023
McDonald’s Pakistani franchise has also released a statement distancing themselves from McDonald’s Israel. Users in the replies challenged them to produce proof. “Liars. Every other McDonald’s franchise around the Arab world donated except for you and Egypt,” user @ALadyInKuwait wrote. “If you’re not affiliated with them, speak up for Palestine. Wouldn’t hurt you,” @Pehalwaaan said.
Similarly, an account on X, “Iran Observer,” posted a clip of pro-Palestine protestors smashing the windows of a McDonald’s said to be in Turkey. The story was corroborated by an article from BNN Network which reported that the store was in Istanbul. A different angle of the same incident was uploaded to Reddit.
Mcdonalds in Turkey has now been stormed pic.twitter.com/WpFuyOv8E6
— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) October 18, 2023
People in Istanbul destroy a McDonalds in anger over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
byu/Nastyfaction inPublicFreakout
According to past reporting, the Turkey McDonald’s franchisee is owned by a Qatari holding company called Boheme Investment GmbH, so it did not affect the profits of the American corporation. But the details don’t seem to matter to the pro-Palestine demonstrators: McDonald’s is being taken as a symbol of Israel and the Western imperial system thought to support it.
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