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]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
Adam Marcello @ Aug 6th 2008 3:34PM
awww are the big bad shieks mad cause no one likes them anymore.
Its a damn shame that Nissan will probably fold.
Vintage @ Aug 6th 2008 3:58PM
Screw oil sheiks. Greedy mofos.
Conor @ Aug 6th 2008 4:18PM
^My sentiments exactly.
Harrison @ Aug 6th 2008 10:28PM
@ 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 @ Aug 7th 2008 2:55AM
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 @ Aug 7th 2008 2:22PM
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 @ Aug 8th 2008 8:16AM
o.k. that was funny!!!! Some people have no sence of humor!
wezie @ Aug 8th 2008 2:10PM
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 @ Aug 6th 2008 3:35PM
I don't think anyone saw The Zohan.
phooky @ Aug 6th 2008 3:36PM
LOL
polar @ Aug 6th 2008 3:36PM
So are they going to cancel their GT-R preorders?
2007RC46SP2 @ Aug 6th 2008 4:15PM
nah.
they just plan on purchasing nissan motor corp and shutting it down.
Greg @ Aug 6th 2008 3:38PM
Sheesh, you'd think this was a cartoon or something. Anyone ever seen how israelis are portrayed in arabic media?
Swede @ Aug 6th 2008 3:50PM
Touchy people, those Saudis. I bet they'll be even more cranky when they run out of income.
Mi key @ Aug 6th 2008 3:38PM
The shoe was a nice touch.
User @ Aug 6th 2008 3:39PM
Nissan just went up a spot in my book.
Saudi Arabian sheiks and oilmen: The number one reason I want an electric car.
Clarence Young @ Aug 6th 2008 3:45PM
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 @ Aug 6th 2008 4:01PM
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 @ Aug 6th 2008 4:05PM
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 @ Aug 6th 2008 4:38PM
Correction: He wants an electric car and a nuclear power plant in his backyard.
At least I do.