OPT/Israel: Shake Shack faces boycott over decision to open restaurant in Israel amid ongoing attacks on Gaza
"Shake Shack Faces Boycott Calls Over Israel", 8 March 2024
...Shake Shack is facing boycott calls over its decision to open a restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel, amid the country's conflict with Hamas...
Shake Shack was drawn into the conversation after it was revealed that its first restaurant in Israel opened on February 7. Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an article on the opening, with photos showing patrons in long lines for the food...
Despite perceptions that the decision was made to open the Shake Shack in Israel during the conflict, the Tel Aviv location was actually announced in April 2023, several months before the latest round of bloodshed in the Middle East began.
A Shake Shack representative told Newsweek in an emailed statement...that the company "opened our first international location in 2011 in Dubai and has since shared our food and hospitality with communities in 18 countries around the world. In April 2023, we announced our plans to open in Tel Aviv, which is part of our broader global expansion strategy.
"Shake Shack Enterprises does not support governments or groups engaged in this or any conflict. We condemn all forms of violence and suffering and are deeply concerned for everyone impacted by the conflict."
"Our focus is, and always has been, to serve our teams and bring hospitality to our guests and their communities."...
"People in Gаza are starving and Shake Shack decided to open a location in Israеl," wrote one X user...