Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US correspondent based in New York Signs placed in front of McDonald's branches in Tel Aviv on June 4, 2019, accusing the fast-food chain of boycotting West Bank settlements, and urging Israelis to boycott the restaurant giant in return. (Channel 12 screen capture) NEW YORK — Long before Ben & Jerry’s, it was McDonald’s that took a stand against Israeli settlements. In 2013, the fast-food chain’s chief executive in Israel refused an offer to open a branch in the northern West Bank settlement of Ariel, sparking anger from settlers and right-wing lawmakers from the Jewish Home party, who called on Israelis to boycott McDonald’s in response.