Jerusalem's Status? Leave It to Mickey Mouse

One man’s Jerusalem is another man’s Al Quds. And if you think rival claims on the city are a nightmare for Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, spare a thought for the poor old Disney corporation. Disney is under pressure over the Jerusalem exhibit at its planned "Millennium Village" in Florida, designed to offer an interactive window, complete with crafts and indigenous entertainment, into 40 different cultures. Arab League members had threatened over the past week to launch a boycott of Disney products to protest the theme park’s designation of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, prompting CEO Michael Eisner to give the assurance that the Holy City won’t be called anyone’s capital. It was reported Tuesday that Eisner had assured Saudi Arabia’s Prince Al Walid bin Talal, a major shareholder in EuroDisney, that the corporation would steer clear of the controversy. Last month, Burger King found itself in similar straits after it opened an outlet in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. The Home of the Whopper withdrew its franchise after activists threatened a boycott of its burgers throughout the Islamic world.

Economic globalization appears to have made corporate America more sensitive than Washington’s political class to Arab political concerns. After all, Hillary Clinton doesn’t have to fear an Arab backlash at the ballot box when she stumps for New York votes by publicly urging her husband to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. But Disney stands to lose up to $150 million a year in an Arab boycott of its products. Despite Eisner’s assurances, Arab League officials are still demanding the right to inspect the "Millennium Village" before its opening to ensure that Islamic and Christian claims on Jerusalem are respected. And the site’s producers are left with the headache of creating an entertainment and education program that reconciles competing claims on the city’s identity. But hey, they don’t call it the Magic Kingdom for nothing.