Hananya Naftali
Nov 7, 2026
The Boycott Rumors
The Short Answer
Neither company takes an official side in the conflict. Starbucks has had no stores in Israel since 2003, yet it was boycotted after a dispute with its union over a pro Palestinian post. McDonald's was targeted after its local Israeli franchise gave free meals to soldiers in 2023. McDonald's later bought back its Israeli restaurants.
The Starbucks Story
Starbucks left the Israeli market in 2003 for business reasons. In October 2023 it sued its workers' union over a social media post supporting Palestinians, and activists then called for a boycott, falsely claiming the company funds Israel's army.
The McDonald's Story
McDonald's restaurants in Israel were run by a local franchise owner, who donated meals to soldiers and hospitals after October 7. Boycott campaigns hit McDonald's sales in Muslim majority countries, even though local franchises there had no link to Israel. In 2024 McDonald's bought back the Israeli franchise.
These boycotts mostly hurt local workers and franchise owners, often Arabs and Muslims themselves. Read more: The BDS Movement
Key Facts
Starbucks has had no stores in Israel since 2003.
The Starbucks boycott began over a lawsuit with its union.
McDonald's Israel's local franchise gave free meals to soldiers.
McDonald's bought back its Israeli restaurants in 2024.