U.S. Company Dumps Arab Satire

Procter & Gamble is withdrawing its ads from an Arab TV satire in which an actor playing Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon drinks Arab blood and shoots captured Arabs.

Another company, the Italian chocolate maker Ferrero, is considering withdrawing its commercials as well, company officials said.

The series, titled "Terrorism," is being broadcast by Abu Dhabi satellite television during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began Friday.

Excerpts from the show were screened on Israeli television and met with expressions of disgust. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres called the satire "repulsive." Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who was in Israel at the head of a European Union delegation, condemned the satire as "a scandal."

Procter & Gamble, which advertised a brand of shampoo on the program, said it was withdrawing its commercial.

"We made a mistake, and we have taken steps to correct it," said Linda Ulrey, spokeswoman at the company's Cincinnati headquarters.

Ulrey said the company avoids advertising on programs that are violent, "morally ambivalent," or those that denigrate religious beliefs or political views.

Another commercial during the program advertised Kinder chocolate, which is made by Ferrero.

"We will take immediate steps to end our participation in that program," said Zion Daya, Israeli product manager for Ferrero.

However, an official at the company's headquarters in Italy, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no decision had yet been made and experts are going to the region to determine Ferrero's future support of the program.

The director of Abu Dhabi TV dismissed the criticism, saying Peres has lost his sense of humor.

"Instead of getting angry at the media, Israel should take a close look at its policies and stop shooting Palestinians," Ismail Abdullah told the official United Arab Emirates news agency.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Gideon Meir said Israel will probably suggest to other firms that they withdraw their ads.

"I am sure that the companies were totally unaware when they purchased the advertising time that the program is virulently anti-Semitic," Meir said.

By Jack Katzenell
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