Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel and a focus of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
West Bank
The Latest
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Breaking News Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid Cuts Off Cash to Settlements Amid Scandal
Israel’s finance minister halted the transfer of government funds to West Bank Jewish settlements on Saturday and ordered a probe into allegations that money meant to support municipalities had been funnelled to a pro-settler political group. The money in question had been earmarked to cover security and building maintenance fees that were incurred when Israel…
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Opinion Bursting Bubbles of SodaStream’s Haters
Is it wrong for Scarlett Johansson to perform as the celebrity global ambassador for the Israeli company SodaStream? Is it wrong for the rest of us to drink the fizzy, made-at-home water in the environmentally-friendly reusable bottles that are manufactured in Palestinian land occupied by Israel since the 1967 war? Thanks to the high-wattage Super…
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Breaking News Scarlett Johansson Cuts Ties to Oxfam Over SodaStream Feud
Actress Scarlett Johansson has ended her relationship with Oxfam, saying she and the humanitarian organization have “a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.” The announcement Wednesday evening comes after a protracted debate over her role as spokesperson for SodaStream, which operates a factory in the West Bank. Johansson…
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Israel News SodaStream Controversy Fueled by Lies and Distortions — and Israel’s Occupation
To some people, it’s a storm in a soda cup. But to others, SodaStream’s most ambitious advertising campaign ever, starring Scarlett Johansson, is a potent symbol of all that is bad about Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. The ad campaign, to be kicked off during the broadcast of the Super Bowl, on February 2,…
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Life ScarJo’s Other SodaStream Problem: The Sexist Ad
No matter where you stand on Israeli politics, it’s hard not to see Scarlett Johansson’s decision to become a spokesperson for SodaStream as a bold choice. Unfortunately, this boldness didn’t make its way into the commercial itself. Instead, the ad relies on the most cliche, ickily retro advertising tropes imaginable. If you are reading this…
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Opinion Love Israel. Oppose BDS. Reject SodaStream.
As counterintuitive as it may be, when you see Scarlett Johansson’s Super Bowl ad on Sunday, promoting a product that lets you make carbonated drinks at home, try to see through bubbles and think about the future of the Middle East. There is nothing wrong with the product itself. Under normal circumstances, I would buy…
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Israel News SodaStream Boss Admits West Bank Plant Is ‘a Pain’ — Praises Scarlett Johansson
If he could turn back the clock, SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum would “never” have established a production plant on an Israeli Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank. In fact, he said, its location has turned out to be “a pain in the ass.” “We’re here because we’re here — for historical reasons,” Birnbaum told…
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Opinion Scarlett Johansson Stars in ‘SodaStream’
Hollywood starlet Scarlett Johansson is taking heat for her decision to represent SodaStream, an Israeli home beverage company that operates in the occupied West Bank. Cartoonist Eli Valley offers his own unique graphic take on the controversy.
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