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Saudi Arabia threatens Nissan boycott over Israeli ad
Click above to watch the video
Saudis may be known for a lot of things, but let's face it – comedy is not one of them. Israelis on the other hand... have you seen The Zohan? In any event, it's not surprising that people in Saudi Arabia are outraged at something from Israel, but this time it has nothing to do with military actions or residential construction, and to be fair, while talk of boycotts is filling the air once again, they're not actually blaming Israel itself for anything. Instead, Nissan is the boycott target.
The spate was started by a commercial Israeli TV that depicts Arabian oil sheikhs getting medieval on a Nissan Tiida. The implication is that the car's fuel efficiency is harming the sheikhs' business interests. The Saudi regime, along with other oil-producing Gulf states, is threatening to boycott Nissan – which itself is collaborating on the development of the Project Better Place electric car system in Israel – if the automaker doesn't apologize.
Follow the jump to watch the commercial – which, strangely, we could only find in Arabic with Russian subtitles – and leave your thoughts in the comments section below (just please keep it tasteful).
[Source: Haaretz]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
Adam Marcello 3:34PM (8/06/2008)
awww are the big bad shieks mad cause no one likes them anymore.
Its a damn shame that Nissan will probably fold.
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Vintage 3:58PM (8/06/2008)
Screw oil sheiks. Greedy mofos.
Conor 4:18PM (8/06/2008)
^My sentiments exactly.
Harrison 10:28PM (8/06/2008)
@ vintage
Why are they greedy mofos? Why isn't the head of Nissan a greedy mofo? Why isn't the head of Apple a greedy mofo? Why am I not a greedy mofo? I want money. I love money. Hell, I would cut open myself and sell my internal organs for a (insert flavor of the month supercar.)
I am sick of people like Vintage who openly maintain this double-standard toward people. Sure oil barons make loads of money. But we live in a capitalist society. You too are a greedy mofo. You make money and probably want a higher-paying job. You want a cool car too. But until we have a revolution, this is life. Perhaps you should be the first one. Give your SVX and worldly goods to me. Then you can have nothing and openly point and shake your fist in anger.
Dave 2:55AM (8/07/2008)
As a liberal person, I'm more than annoyed when we pander to intolerant, superstitious, misogynistic societies like SA just because we have to be "nice." If the Muslim world cannot take a joke at their own, or Allah's expense, then let them stop selling oil and return to whatever form their society held before the first barrel was pumped.
That a government of people prohibits women to drive cars, funds terrorist groups, and then can't take a joke, makes me want to buy a hybrid.
Itsabouttime 8:16AM (9/12/2008)
Ditto and it's about time someone addressed it all. Now if someone would address Congresses role keeping us oil dependent!
Let's impeach Nancy.
Tamela Knight 8:16AM (8/08/2008)
o.k. that was funny!!!! Some people have no sence of humor!
wezie 2:10PM (8/08/2008)
I agree. We all (any country that has to pay the gas rates and fee's) pay the amount due for the product.
That allows us to make a joke at the expense of who ever makes whatever product. It is time to get a thick skin. They cannot charge what they charge and then think they will control how anyone thinks. Plus the less we all purchase gas, the more we can have more happy
thoughts, ha ha!!!Love to all from Canarsie, Brooklyn & we are paying top dollar & will continue to have my own thoughts!!!!!P.S. I AM A GAL-try and control that!!!!!!
xcrunk 3:35PM (8/06/2008)
I don't think anyone saw The Zohan.
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phooky 3:36PM (8/06/2008)
LOL
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polar 3:36PM (8/06/2008)
So are they going to cancel their GT-R preorders?
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2007RC46SP2 4:15PM (8/06/2008)
nah.
they just plan on purchasing nissan motor corp and shutting it down.
Greg 3:38PM (8/06/2008)
Sheesh, you'd think this was a cartoon or something. Anyone ever seen how israelis are portrayed in arabic media?
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Swede 3:50PM (8/06/2008)
Touchy people, those Saudis. I bet they'll be even more cranky when they run out of income.
Mi key 3:38PM (8/06/2008)
The shoe was a nice touch.
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User 3:39PM (8/06/2008)
Nissan just went up a spot in my book.
Saudi Arabian sheiks and oilmen: The number one reason I want an electric car.
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Clarence Young 3:45PM (8/06/2008)
Yeah, and when you have your electric car, you won't have to worry about the Arab oil running your power company's generators!
VWsat 4:01PM (8/06/2008)
Probably good to note that only 1.7% of US power generation comes from Oil and 20% from Natural Gas. The majority still comes from Coal (50%)
I hope the environmentalists get educated enough to realize that New Nuclear power plants (Fast Reactors) generate almost no waste. They can also run on the waste from current reactors with 97% efficiency vs. "fresh" uranium. Some types of fast reactors require no enrichment and much cheaper refining/processing.
I am probably going to get rated down, but I wished that gas prices remained high to encourage people to buy more efficient vehicles and invest in alternative energy sources. Short term pain for future energy independence is better than extending the dependence (and flow of money) to other nations.
Reader 4:05PM (8/06/2008)
Yeah, because we can't live without the 1.6% of our electricity not being produced by oil anymore.
http://www.eei.org/industry_issues/industry_overview_and_statistics/industry_statistics/index.htm
A few nuclear plants could easily cover that and oil would be a thing of the past (in a perfect world, of course).
Gerolsteiner 4:38PM (8/06/2008)
Correction: He wants an electric car and a nuclear power plant in his backyard.
At least I do.