AIRPORT CITY, Israel,
Sept. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- SodaStream International Ltd. (Nasdaq: SODA), the leading
global manufacturer and distributor of home sparkling water makers,
together with Talal Al-Krenawi,
mayor of the Bedouin city of Rahat in the south of Israel, have announced a joint effort to offer
immediate asylum to refugees from Syria, pending Israeli authorities'
approval. SodaStream and Rahat can effectively absorb 1,000
individuals, or up to 200 families, and provide them with an
opportunity to build a new life in Israel.
As a flood of refugees from war-torn Syria strikes Europe's gates in what has been described as
one of the most significant humanitarian crises since World War II,
Birnbaum's and Al-Krenawi's efforts are part of what they
claim should be a loud and clear call-to-action among municipal
leaders and the global business community to provide assistance for
asylum seekers.
"As the son of a Holocaust survivor, I refuse to stand by and
observe this human tragedy unfold right across the border in
Syria," said Birnbaum. "Just as we
have always done our best to help our Palestinian brothers and
sisters in the West Bank, the time
has come for local business and municipal leaders to address the
Syrian humanitarian crisis and take the initiative to help those in
need. We cannot expect our politicians to bear the entire burden of
providing aid for the refugees."
Al-Krenawi is the mayor of Rahat, a city of 55,000 and the
largest Bedouin city in the world. At the present time, 30 percent
of the 1,100 workers in SodaStream's nearby factory are residents
of Rahat.
"We enjoy a progressive, urban lifestyle in Rahat; however, we
haven't abandoned our culture and our tribal traditions," said
Al-Krenawi. "Human dignity and hospitality are core values in our
culture and we will not allow indifference to the suffering of
others. In this first stage, we will be able to receive 1,000
refugees, and then through ongoing collaboration with SodaStream,
we plan to help more. Our hope is that the government will then
support our joint effort."
About SodaStream
SodaStream is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor
of Sparkling Water Makers, which enable consumers to easily
transform ordinary tap water into sparkling water and flavored
sparkling water in seconds. By making ordinary water more exciting
and fun to drink, SodaStream helps consumers drink more water.
Sparkling Water Makers offer a highly differentiated and
innovative solution to consumers of bottled and canned carbonated
soft drinks. The products promote health and wellness, are
environmentally friendly, cost effective, and are customizable and
fun to use. Products are available at more than 70,000 retail
stores across 45 countries, including 15,000 retail stores in
the United States. To learn more
about how SodaStream makes water exciting and follow SodaStream on
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube, visit
www.sodastream.com.
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SOURCE SodaStream International Ltd.