By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RAMALLAH, The West Bank – Super Bowl XLVIII, an otherwise boring game, may be remembered more for the controversy caused by its famous multi-million dollar commercials than it will be for the excitement on the gridiron. One of these ads may have even cost a Hollywood starlet her position as the public face of a major international charity.

The UK based Oxfam charity, an internationally acclaimed charity dedicated to the eradication of poverty and famine across the globe, has announced that it accepted the resignation of actress Scarlett Johansson as an ambassador for the charity.

Although Johansson officially resigned, Oxfam says she her resignation came as a result of a conflict of interest representation of the company that makes the machines is a conflict of interests. The “conflict of interest” arose from Johansson’s decision to appear in a Super Bowl commercial for SodaStream, a consumer product that converts water and flavouring into carbonated soft drinks.

The organization stated that “While Oxfam respects the independence of our ambassadors, Ms Johansson’s role promoting the company SodaStream is incompatible with her role as an Oxfam Global Ambassador.”

Like many members of the international community Oxfam believes the ongoing construction of settlements in Palestinian territories in the West Bank are a violation of international law. The charity said it opposes all trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. The organizing, which is committed to the eradication of global poverty, believes that companies that do business in illegally constructed settlements in the West Bank not only encourages the further development of illegal settlements but contribute to the spread of poverty in Palestine. In a statement the organization said “Oxfam believes that businesses, such as SodaStream, that operate in settlements further the ongoing poverty and denial of rights of the Palestinian communities that we work to support.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is working both Israel and Palestinian leaders on an Israeli-Palestinian framework agreement, the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied territories is a critical issue in the drafting of this agreement.

The public stance taken by Oxfam, often regarded as a pro-Palestine organization, and other international organizations has fuelled fears that international opposition to illegal settlements in the West Bank may come at a large economic price for the state of Israel.

Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid reiterated these fears by warning that if negotiations break down in the ongoing talks between Israel and the Palestinian Boycotts of Israeli goods will be likely. He said that if Israel face a “reality of a European boycott, even a very partial one, Israel’s economy will retreat backward and every Israeli citizen will feel it straight in the pocket.”

SodaStream fired back at Oxfam’s criticisms by accusing the charity of funding the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, allegations that the charity denies.

For more information please see:

The Jerusalem Post – SodaStream Accuses Oxfam of Funding BDS – 03 February 2014

ABC News – Scarlett Johansson, Oxfam Part Ways Over Politics – 30 January 2014

CNN – Oxfam Loses Scarlett Johansson over SodaStream Ads and Jewish Settlements – 30 January 2014

Oxfam – Oxfam Accepts Resignation of Scarlett Johansson – 30 January 2014