The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has condemned Zahi Khouri, CEO of Coca-Cola Palestine [sic], for urging an economic boycott of the Jewish State of Israel, which is nothing less than outright anti-Semitism, and has called upon Coca-Cola to immediately and publicly condemn and repudiate his remarks.

In a September 2014 op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel, Khouri’s stated that the “non-violent efforts of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) advocates make sense as a means to force Israel to recognize that the occupation is not cost-free … countries, like those in the European Union, could enforce their own laws against doing businesses with countries that violate human rights.”

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “Zahi Khouri’s anti-Semitic remarks confirm him as an opponent of the Jewish State of Israel’s existence, one who seeks to ostracize, damage and ultimately overcome Israel by means of the BDS campaign of continual, progressive delegitimization of Israel so as to compel it to make untenable concessions to a Palestinian movement that has no intention of living in peace with Israel.

“This is unacceptable and indeed in conflict with Khouri’s role as CEO of a Coca-Cola subsidiary.

“Coca-Cola correctly broke with its former position of abiding by the Arab boycott of Israel when it granted a franchise for Coca-Cola production in Israel in 1966. It would be grotesque and incomprehensible for Coca-Cola to remain silent when a Coca-Cola CEO calls publicly for the boycotting and imposition of sanctions on Israel.

“The real human rights abuses warranting international attention and pressure are committed by Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority (PA), which repeatedly pronounces that it will not permit a single Jew to live in a future Palestinian state. The PA continues to glorify Jew-killing terrorists by paying them stipends while they are in Israeli jails, and names schools, streets and sports teams in their honor. The PA teaches Palestinian children to hate Jews.

“We call upon Coca-Cola to repudiate Khouri’s bigoted stance and to end its affiliation with Khouri’s company.”