Arab League to Continue Its Boycott of Coke Products
The Arab League’s Israel Boycott Office on Thursday renewed a 20-year-old ban on drinking Coca-Cola in the Arab world.
A statement issued in Damascus by the office at the end of a six-day review of its boycott list reiterated the ban on Coca-Cola “for providing economical aid to Israel.”
The boycott remained in place despite anticipation by some Arab countries that the office might lift the ban.
At least two Arab countries, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, opened bottling plants in anticipation of the lifting of the boycott. The internationally popular soft drink has increasingly appeared in other Persian Gulf markets.
The boycott office’s half-yearly meeting lifted bans on 22 other foreign companies after “proof that they have terminated their relation with Israel and have vowed to futurely comply with the regulations and principles of the office.”
Nineteen companies disproved accusations that they dealt with Israel and were excluded from the boycott.
The office, however, imposed a ban on Arab trade with 35 unidentified foreign companies. A boycott was also imposed in diamond dealing with 21 Indian companies and their branches.
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