Johansson Stepping Down as Oxfam Ambassador

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Scarlett Johansson is ending her relationship with a humanitarian group after being criticized over her support for an Israeli company that operates in the West Bank.

A statement released by Johansson's spokesman Wednesday said the 29-year-old actress has "a fundamental difference of opinion" with Oxfam International because the humanitarian group opposes all trade from Israeli settlements, saying they are illegal and deny Palestinian rights.

"Scarlett Johansson has respectfully decided to end her ambassador role with Oxfam after eight years," the statement said. "She and Oxfam have a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. She is very proud of her accomplishments and fundraising efforts during her tenure with Oxfam."

Earlier this month, "The Avengers" and "Her" actress signed on as the first global brand ambassador of SodaStream International Ltd., and she's set to appear in an ad for the at-home soda maker during the Super Bowl on Feb. 2.

SodaStream has come under fire from pro-Palestinian activists for maintaining a large factory in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, a territory captured by Israel in 1967 and claimed by the Palestinians.

In response to the criticism, Johansson said last week she was a "supporter of economic cooperation and social interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine."

Oxfam took issue with Johansson, noting it was "considering the implications of her new statement and what it means for Ms. Johansson's role as an Oxfam global ambassador."

Johansson had served as a global ambassador for Oxfam since 2007, raising funds and promoting awareness about global poverty. In her role as an Oxfam ambassador, she traveled to India, Sri Lanka and Kenya to highlight the impact of traumatic disasters and chronic poverty.

Oxfam representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Comments 5
Missing phillipo 30 January 2014, 10:05

Well done Scarlett.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 30 January 2014, 11:04

Scarlett should be ashamef of herself for supporting a company that is flaunting international law. Settlements are illegal under international law and businesses that support these settlements should be treated as outlaws.

Thumb Maxx 30 January 2014, 17:03

Right. Now you go employ those 500 Palestinians working for that company at above minimum wage. I condemn the illegal settlements as well, but there comes a time when one must stop thinking in terms of politics and remember the people concerned. You can bet that not one of the 500 of 1300 workers in that factory who is Palestinian would prefer see the company move over to Israel, behind the iron curtain, and lose the job by which they are feeding their family (and perhaps even that of the neighbours). Perhaps Scarlett figured that she didn't sign up for this job at Oxfam to be a puppet in somebody's political game while ignoring the very people those politics are about.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 30 January 2014, 21:33

Maxx - even if I accept the numbers you provided, it does not change the fact that this company (among others) is supporting an illegal settlment enterprise. The company could have set-up in one of the industrial parks previousely agreed upon between Israel and the Palestinians. It chose to further a settlemet policy that is one of the tools used to dispossess Palestinians and deny them their rights. As far as I am concerned, all Israeli companies should be boycotted to force the Israeli regime to come to terms with the Palestinians based on international law.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 31 January 2014, 00:18

Away from the factory, Reuters quoted one unnamed Palestinian employee as saying "there's a lot of racism" at work. Most of the managers are Israeli, and West Bank employees feel they can't ask for pay rises or more benefits because they can be fired and easily replaced."