Abeer Zinaty, an Israeli citizen of Palestinian origin was fired from her job at a McDonald’s restaurant in Ramle, central Israel, specifically because she spoke Arabic to a co-worker.
McDonald’s Corporation confirmed that it has a policy banning its employees from speaking Arabic in its restaurants in Israel, despite the fact that Palestinian citizens of Israel form 20% of its workforce, and Arabic is one of the two official languages of Israel.
It is unimaginable that in its American restaurants, McDonald’s would prohibit the use of Spanish, the most-commonly spoken language in the United States after English.
“Zinaty’s treatment at the hands of the Israeli management of McDonald’s is a stark illustration of an ever-swelling tide of discrimination against Arab workers”
Jafar Ferah (Director of Mossawa — a political lobbying group for Israel’s one million Palestinian citizens)
Related Links:
- McDonald’s Israel reportedly fires employee for speaking Arabic (Electronic Intifada)
- McDonald’s Confirms ‘no-Arabic’ policy at its restaurants in Israel (Electronic Intifada)
- No Arabic at McDonald’s Israel (Al Ahram Weekly)
[via Je Blog, Jalan-Jalan]
