Summary Israeli branch of McDonald's says it won't open a restaurant in a Jewish settlement as protest.
JERUSALEM (AP) - Irina Shalmor, spokeswoman for McDonald s Israel, said the owners of a planned mall in the Ariel settlement asked McDonald s to open a branch there about six months ago.
The chain refused because it is the policy of McDonald s Israel s owner to stay out of the occupied territories.
The decision was not coordinated with McDonald s headquarters in the US, she said.
Israeli lawmakers have protested the decision, reported in local media Thursday. One says she ll boycott the chain.
Tzahi Nehimias, co-owner of the mall, says Burger King and an Israeli burger chain both offered to open branches at the mall.
