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[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Fast food chain McDonald's will buy back all of its Israeli restaurants following a boycott of the brand after it was criticised for giving away thousands of free meals to Israeli soldiers.The move to donate meals to troops was later renounced by McDonald's franchises in some Muslim countries, highlighting the polarized regional politics that global corporations navigate during war.
Some Western brands are feeling the impact of boycotts in Egypt and Jordan that have now caught on in some countries outside the Arab region including Muslim-majority Malaysia.
The popular chain said it had reached an agreement with franchisee Alonyal for 225 outlets across the country employing 5,000 people.
McDonald's decision comes after widespread protests at its decision to give out free meals affected sales in the Middle East, Indonesia and France.
McDonald's is a global chain but its franchises are often owned locally and operate autonomously, with Alonyal operated McDonald's restaurants in Israel for more than 30 years.
Jo Sempels, president of international developmental licensed markets at McDonald's Corporation, thanked Alonyal 'for building the McDonald's business and brand in Israel over the past 30 years'.
Mr Sempels added: 'McDonald's remains committed to the Israeli market and to ensuring a positive employee and customer experience in the market going forward.'
Allyson Stewart-Allen, CEO of International Marketing Partners, said that by buying back its restaurants, McDonald's was looking to send a message of reassurance to customers in Israel.
Speaking to iNews, she said: 'They are saying by implication, this won't happen again.
'I think they are telling customers by buying back the business that we are taking back control.'
Ms Stewart-Allen added that such a move by the company indicates McDonald's franchisees could be tightened globally as a result of the row, while suggesting that it posed a similar challenge for other large global brands with franchises.
'They too will now be thinking, we probably need to tighten up what they are allowed to do, because they don't want to suffer the same,' said the author of Working with Americans.
'McDonald's is a lesson for all global brands generally.'
It comes after McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski admitted in January that the company has seen 'meaningful impact' in several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.