The resignation of the well-known actress Scarlett Johansson from Oxfam creates an intellectual and sentimental challenge on how one should deal with this critical issue.

For the past eight years, this prominent Hollywood actress has been a “global ambassador” for Oxfam. No doubt this was motivated by a yearning to empower people who are excluded from national and human rights. Oxfam has always advocated and is committed to human rights. That Johansson served Oxfam for eight years is proof of the idealism that constituted her commitment to empower the disempowered. We cannot but appreciate her service, and simultaneously share disappointment for the reason behind her resignation from Oxfam.

Johannson resigned from Oxfam to endorse SodaStream, an Israeli company manufacturing home carbonation systems, which is located in an Israeli settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories

Of course, Oxfam International issued a statement on Jan. 30 accepting her decision because "Oxfam believes that businesses, such as SodaStream, that operate in settlements further the ongoing poverty and denial of rights of the Palestinian communities that we work to support." Oxfam further stated it was "opposed to all trade from Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law."