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Hertz Withdraws from Israeli Airline Deal

Promotion sparked protests in Muslim community.

by Staff
January 21, 2009
1 min to read


Hertz called on the Israeli airline EL AL to withdraw an Internet advertisement that offered free Hertz rentals to British passengers who flew to Israel to show their “solidarity” with the country, according to The Independent.

The advertisements, running on EL AL’s website, stated: “Come express your solidarity with Israel. Fly with EL AL and receive 3 or 4 day car rental for free!”

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The Hertz Corporation said it did not want to be associated with the offer and said it insisted that its logo be taken off the promotion.

The deal was launched on Jan. 8, five days after Israel began its ground offensive in Gaza. An EL AL spokeswoman said the airline has had numerous bookings as a result of the promotion.

The promotion sparked anger in the British Muslim community, however. A spokesperson for the Muslim Public Affairs Committee, one of Britain’s Muslim civil rights groups, called on EL AL to pull out of the deal. Muslims around the world are boycotting companies that are actively supporting Israeli companies, the spokesperson added.

A Hertz Corp. spokeswoman said the company had not been aware of the promotion being run by EL AL and its Israeli franchise operator who trades under the Hertz brand. He added that the offer was designed, run and managed by EL AL.

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