Beirut: Mecca-Cola, a drink made popular in recent years in Europe and the Arab world thanks to rising anti-American sentiment, hit Israeli markets last week.
Mecca-Cola, founded by French-Tunisian businessman Tawfiq Mathlouthi in 2002 as an Arab answer to America’s Coca-Cola, donates 10 percent of its proceeds to Palestinian causes and another 10 percent to local charities in the country of sale.
The company’s motto is “No more drinking stupid, drink with commitment.”
Miqdad Idris, Mecca-Cola’s director of operations in Israel, told the Israeli news agency Maariv International that “Arabs are entitled to enjoy brands that were made especially for them.”
“It is intolerable that (Palestinian children) should suffer, starve and miss school,” he added. He also reiterated that 10 percent of the profits will be distributed as donations.