Los Angeles: "It's a mini burger party at Burgerim, a new Israeli burger chain in Hollywood"
The Franchise Times, a publication that dubs itself "The News and Information Source for Franchising," told us just last October:
"This much is clear. Burgerim was founded in Israel" In 2011, Oren Loni, a serial franchisor, purchased the franchise rights from Tuchner [previous owner and founder] and started selling Burgerim franchises in Israel" and in June 2015 moved his family to Los Angeles to start developing the Burgerim brand here."
The above article actually reads as a warning to investors to stay away from Burgerim... probably good advice.
And if all this isn't enough, listen to Loni's own words: "Burgerim is one of the most exciting Burger concepts and I am very excited to finally be able to share it with all of America." Why is he "finally able to share it with all of America"? Because he brought it here from somewhere else, and that somewhere else is Israel. It's pretty clear.
And remember the "built on stolen Palestinian land" part I was stressing above? Burgerim's franchises in Israel carry the history of Palestinian suffering and dispossession.
One is in Karmiel in the north of Palestine. The lands of the Palestinian villages of Nahf, Bi'ina, and Deir al-Asad were expropriated by Israel to build Karmiel. Today, the settlers of Karmiel number almost 50,000.
Another is in Beersheba (Beer a-Saba'), the site of a planned 1948 invasion by Israel. Before that invasion, Beersheba was virtually entirely Palestinian, and had been for centuries. Afterwards, over 30,000 Palestinians were expelled, and the city was looted. In short order, the houses of those refugees were "repopulated" by new Jewish settlers.
One Burgerim location is in an Israeli town named Yehud. Yehud was built on the ruins of al-Abbasiyeh, a Palestinian village depopulated in 1948.
Yet another one is in Caesarea, where Israeli militias forcibly evicted its Palestinians in 1947.
There's one in a city named Yokneam. That city is built on the lands of Qira, which was emptied of its Palestinians by Israeli forces in 1948 as well.
Burgerim sports a location in Kiryat Gat, which lies on the ruins of Iraq al-Manshiyya. This village was over 600 years old. Over 2000 of its Palestinian inhabitants were ousted in 1948.
You can get your Burgerim fix in Ashkelon, which Palestinians called Majdal Asqalan. As part of the Israel's "War of Independence," over 10,000 Palestinians were forced out in 1948. This Palestinian city was also repopulated by new Jewish settlers. Finding homes for them was easy. They were already there.
Go get a burger in Gedera. That Israeli city was built on the village of Qatra. There, Israel ejected 1400 Palestinians.
Don't forget to get extra cheese on your burger in Yavne. Palestinians used to live there, in their village of Yabne, until 5000 were kicked out.
Maybe you'd like a side of fries in Lod, which Palestinians still call al-Lidd. In 1948, 20,000 Palestinians were forcibly removed. Over 1000 were massacred. The few who remained were dispossessed.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
