Total Donations Of Danone To Palestine Rp3.13 Billion, New Round Of Operations In Indonesia?

JAKARTA - Danone Indonesia donated Aqua bottled drinking water (AMDK) to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which for more than two months was bombarded by the Zionist regime of Israel. Humanitarian donations that should be appreciated, a form of solidarity from one of the largest foreign companies in Indonesia.

Danone's total donations to Palestine reached Rp3.13 billion. Disbursed through various humanitarian organizations and institutions. Among them through the Amil Zakat Infak and Sedekah Nahdlatul Ulama (LazisNU) Institution, LazisMU Muhammadiyah Central Management, National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas), and finally through the Palestinian Embassy worth Rp630 million.

"This contribution is a form of empathy and support for the Palestinian people," said Michael Liemena, Corporate Communications Manager of Danone Indonesia, as quoted by Antara, Monday, December 18.

The humanitarian donation channeled through the Palestinian Embassy this time is also part of a series of corporate humanitarian actions. Michael denied that the AMDK's largest company in Indonesia had something to do with the Zionist country.

Our company has no affiliation with Israel. There is no Danone company in Israel. We hope that the Indonesian people will not be consumed by hoax news," he said.

Michael said the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) never mentioned that Danone had an affiliation with Israel.

Previously, MUI issued MUI Fatwa Number 83 of 2023 concerning Law on Support Against Palestinian Struggle which requires support for Palestine. Along with the issuance of the MUI Fatwa, a list of names of products allegedly affiliated with Israel was also widely circulated.

Media records in Israel justify Danone's presence in the country. Indeed, foreign investment is required to be open to the public and there is nothing to hide. The Daily The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post in April and May 2023 reported that Danone invested in an Israeli start-up company called Wilma amounting to US $ 3.5 million (IDR 50 billion).

Not the number of investments that are interesting, but the identities of investors, Danone will lead the investment round. For Danone, this is a strategic investment in an Israeli food-tech company that will lead to the world's first strategic collaboration, to develop a processed milk component that will replace mother's milk," said Jerusalem Post, on May 22, 2022. The rise of Danone Aqua's boycott action campaign inevitably makes Danone Indonesia busy providing clarifications. Last November, Danone Indonesia's Corporate Communication Director Arif Mujahidin attempted to fend off slanted issues against his company, arguing that Danone has no factories in Israel and has no political affiliations around the world.

"Danone is a business entity that has no connection or involvement in political views or things outside the business area," Arif said in a release to the media, last November 2023.

So far, the donation value is recorded at IDR 13.3 billion from Danone Indonesia to Palestinians, the figure is certainly not proportional to the IDR 50 billion fund disbursed by Danone's parent to only one Israeli start-up company.

Another Danone investment in Israel, there is a 20 percent control of Danone's shares in the food conglomerate company in Israel,agung Group. This 25% Group is a strong supporter of the Israeli military who is known to be very brutal towards Palestinians.

As a large government-abiding company, Danone is indeed open to information for the public. Including the important share ownership of the world's largest investment company named BlackRock which is planted in Danone.

BlackRock's investment tentacles are known to account for many modern combat weapons makers including Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, Elbit Systems, L3Harris Technologies, ThyssenKrupp, Caterpillar, Boeing, and General Dynamics.

Sadly, the modern weapon made by all companies funded by BlackRock was used by the Israeli military to carry out random attacks on Palestinian territories, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

BlackRock CEO, Larry Fink publicly stated support for Israel. Lightly he called Hamas the terrorists' who invaded Israel and became the trigger for problems in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas invasion in Israel is a terrible act to create fear, said Larry Fink when interviewed by CNBC on October 13, 2023. The presence of the USS Gerald Ford (to the Middle Sea) aircraft is a form of extraordinary statement from the United States (US)... the situation is very dynamic. Of course this is a dire result of the Hamas terrorist act, which has an impact on matters related to the Gaza Strip.

We have an office in Israel. We have to make sure that every employee of ours is safe, their family is safe. In fact, some of our employees were called to join the military," said Larry Fink.

The heavy profit of BlackRock from the war machine industry does not die. And, as an important shareholder of Danone, BlackRock has also enjoyed great profits from Indonesian consumers for years.

As a result, this fact also invites consumer sympathy, which sympathizes with Gaza. Now, Danone is getting busier, dealing with consumers who have the potential to close their wallet contents for the international food and beverage industry.

Tancep kayon. Will there be a next shift in the Danone scene. Danone's new chapter in the Indonesian market is strong with Palestinian sentiment.