Rp31 Billion Donation to Israel Condemned: How Did Disney's Stock React?

The Walt Disney Company, the world's largest entertainment and media company, donated US$2 million (approximately Rp31.38 billion) to Israel. The company referred to this as "humanitarian" aid, considering Israel a victim of the attacks.

"Following the horrific terrorist attacks targeting Jewish people in Israel last weekend, we all must do what we can to support the innocent people experiencing so much suffering, violence, and uncertainty – especially children," said Walt Disney Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Iger, via the company's website as reported by *CNN Indonesia* on Friday, November 10, 2023.

*CNN Indonesia* detailed that Disney donated US$1 million to Magen David Adom, an affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that provides emergency medical services and blood banks in Israel.

The remaining US$1 million was given to other non-profit organizations working in the region, specifically providing aid to children.

Disney is among several companies or brands that have received negative responses from people worldwide. Disney, Coca-Cola, Puma, McDonald's, and Starbucks are products condemned or boycotted globally for perceived support of Israel's aggression against Palestine.

"Thousands of people around the world are boycotting Starbucks after they sued their workers' union for expressing Palestinian support and solidarity and condemning Israel. But Starbucks isn't alone; McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Puma, and even Disney are other companies being called for boycotts," wrote *Al-Jazeera* in a video caption about global boycott actions, uploaded on Saturday, December 11, 2023.

Disappointment with Disney is also widespread domestically. Soleh Solihun, a journalist and presenter, stated that Disney is aiding the killing of children in Palestine.

"100 years creating works to entertain children, and now giving aid to a country that kills children. Shame on you @Disney," Soleh tweeted on Friday, November 10, 2023. The tweet received 16,000 retweets and 21,000 likes.

So, how has Disney's stock performed amidst the wave of criticism?

Based on Yahoo Finance data, the stock price of the DIS-coded issuer has fluctuated. At the time of the donation announcement on October 12, 2023, the share price was US$84.35 per share. This was a slight decrease from US$84.85 on October 11, 2023.

The latest data reached US$88.27 per share on Friday, November 10, 2023. This is a 2.29% decrease from US$90.34 per share on Thursday, November 9, 2023.

Thursday's trading price was the highest since the beginning of November. Furthermore, the share price on Thursday, November 9th, was the highest during Israel's aggression, since October 7, 2023.

The DIS share price frequently remained above US$80 per share during October-November 2023. However, the lowest price fell on Friday, October 27, 2023, at US$79.33 and Thursday, October 26, 2023, at US$79.78 per share.

(See also: [Starbucks Stock Slumps Amid Boycott of Products Deemed Pro-Israel](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/11/02/saham-starbucks-melesu-imbas-boikot-produk-yang-dianggap-pro-israel))