Scarlett Johansson: SodaStream can change the world

Actress admits she is no expert on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but says West Bank factory promotes building a bridge to peace.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Scarlett Johanssen (photo credit: REUTERS)
Scarlett Johanssen
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Scarlett Johansson is defending her role as spokeswoman for the the Israeli company SodaStream, but admits she is not an expert on the Middle East conflict.
In an interview with the Telegraph published on Friday, the blonde bombshell spoke about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, professing that she is no political expert.
"I’m not an expert on the history of this conflict, and I’ve never professed to be," the British newspaper quoted her as saying.
The new gig forced Johansson to officially step down from her position as global ambassador for the charity Oxfam in January over SodaStream's controversial factory located in the West Bank, however she says her belief in the company's values outweigh the issue of the factory's location.
"It is a company that I believe in, that I think has the ability to make a huge difference, environmentally. [SodaStream’s CEO] Daniel Birnbaum has said many times that this factory is one he inherited, and that he doesn’t want to fire people – the majority of those people being Palestinian."
In January, Johansson defended her stance in an interview with the Huffington Post, saying that she stands for peace and conversation between Israelis and Palestinians, something that SodaStream is a strong supporter of.
"I remain a supporter of economic cooperation and social interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine. SodaStream is a company that is not only committed to the environment but to building a bridge to peace between Israel and Palestine, supporting neighbors working alongside each other, receiving equal pay, equal benefits and equal rights. That is what is happening in their Ma’aleh Adumim factory every working day,” she said in the January interview.
The actress signed on to represent the Israeli company in January of this year.
The SodaStream Super Bowl ad starring Johansson was censored by Fox for criticizing its main sponsors Coke and Pepsi, creating further buzz about the controversial company.