The editorial team of "Maakav" reveals shocking documentation from the McDonald's branch in Sarona, Tel Aviv – one of the chain's largest branches in the city center. Photos taken in October 2025 expose a grim picture of severe neglect in cleanliness, food storage in dangerous conditions, blocked access to public restrooms, and damage to environmental quality in Tel Aviv's public space. These findings join a long series of customer complaints, class action lawsuits, and public criticism against the chain in Israel.

The branch located in Sarona, one of Tel Aviv's upscale office districts, has become a place customers describe as a "giant dumpster". Documentation conducted by the "Maakav" editorial team shows an extremely neglected and dirty branch, with garbage accumulating in every corner. The problem is particularly serious because this branch has outdoor tables in the public park, so the waste and garbage harm not only customers but also the environmental quality and the city's public space.

The garbage and waste from McDonald's Sarona don't stay inside the branch. They spread across the public park area, creating a serious environmental hazard and damaging the urban landscape. The responsibility for this lies entirely with the branch management, which cannot – or does not want to – maintain a minimum level of cleanliness. Tel Aviv's public space is turning into the chain's private dump, without any intervention from the branch management.

But the cleanliness problem is just the tip of the iceberg. The photos revealed a particularly disturbing finding – food products requiring refrigeration, such as caramel, were left on the counter for a long time without any cooling. These products are meant to be stored at low temperatures, and leaving them at room temperature poses a real health risk to customers. What's even more disturbing – it doesn't appear that any of the staff members were concerned about this or bothered to return the products to refrigeration. According to documents in the possession of the "Maakav" editorial team, employees likely used these products afterwards, despite their exposure to inappropriate temperatures.

Documentation in the food preparation area reveals another discouraging picture. The area appears unclean, unaesthetic, and unhygienic. Part of the staff doesn't work with gloves when preparing food, despite this being a basic hygiene requirement. One worker was particularly documented working with a mask but without gloves – an especially strange situation when it comes to October 2025, a period when there is no longer a requirement for masks due to coronavirus. Is the worker sick and prefers not to infect the environment? Is he simply afraid of diseases or does he have a weak immune system? While there is no legal prohibition on working with a mask, the combination of a mask without gloves raises many questions about hygiene standards at the location.

Another problem documented by the "Maakav" editorial team is the blocking of access to restrooms. On the day of filming, the branch's restrooms were completely blocked by Wolt delivery drivers who were standing in place. This situation prevented regular customers from using the restrooms, and more seriously – people with disabilities also couldn't access the accessible restrooms. Blocking access to public restrooms, and particularly for people with disabilities, is a serious violation of public rights and accessibility laws in Israel. The delivery drivers blocked the entire passage, and the branch management did nothing to resolve the situation.

The findings of the "Maakav" editorial team are not surprising when examining customer reviews. The branch holds a particularly low rating of 3.4 out of 5 on Google Business. Although this rating is not the lowest among the chain's branches – the Central Station branch holds an even worse rating of 2.8 – this doesn't make the situation better. The reviews themselves tell a difficult story of poor service, poor food, and ignoring customers.

Omer Nuri wrote in his review: "I ordered a nuggets meal, the fries feel like yesterday's, cold, dry and not tasty. I told the worker, he said there's nothing to do, it just came out of the oil. Also, I drank Coke Zero, after three sips it ran out, I didn't understand why because it's a medium cup, and I discovered the cup was packed with ice to the top, and I told the worker, she said it's not her problem and this is insolence, disgusting service, I won't return there, crazy insolence". This description reveals not only a food quality problem but also a dismissive attitude of employees toward customers who dare to complain about stale food and a drink that's almost entirely ice.

Eldad Barner described a similar experience of poor service: "The worst service I received, they forgot several items in the orders, ignored me when I approached them – they simply started after I approached them a conversation with a colleague in front of me and ignored me – seating areas are dirty, trash cans are full". Here too, a picture emerges of complete disregard for the customer, poor cleanliness, and service below all criticism. Employees prefer to chat among themselves rather than deal with the customer waiting for them.

Ido Dovrat expressed deep frustration: "Pathetic branch. The shake machine is broken but they don't bother to remove it from the menu at the self-service station. Then they don't know how to credit me for the shake so instead they credit the entire order and make a new order. They say there's a Minecraft toy and then it turns out there isn't. The cheeseburger comes with unmelted cheese. They send them to heat up and even after the additional heating the cheese isn't melted. They forgot to give a Happy Meal box and packed the items in a bag. Pathetic". The review reveals complete organizational disorder, broken equipment that remains in use, false promises to customers, and food that isn't properly prepared.

Vladislav Yerushevsky described an unpleasant atmosphere: "You hear curses in Arabic from the kitchen, a worker spoke to me rudely. Not like McDonald's in Europe at all". The review points to problems in organizational culture and staff behavior in the kitchen, when customers are exposed to cursing and coarse language.

Aharon Kuritz summarized the situation most clearly: "The place itself is a dumpster, they employ people who don't know how to work. If I could rate 0 I would do it. As usual, nothing new, when will they learn to give service?".

The problems at the Sarona branch are not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of problems accompanying McDonald's in Israel. The chain has been involved in recent years in several class action lawsuits dealing with consumer rights. Already in 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed against Aluniel Ltd., the franchisee of McDonald's in Israel, claiming that the company violated its duty to explain to customers by having app and delivery order prices higher than in-store order prices. Delivery costs that were not properly explained to customers were mentioned, and the company "apparently" acted in a way that misleads the public.

As part of a settlement, customers were offered to choose from three free item options in online orders. However, the most significant lawsuit dealt with a completely different issue – charging for "full meal upsizing" that included an addition and a drink, even though the upsizing was actually not done or was only partially done. The class action lawsuit was filed by Omri Groper, and the court partially approved the request for approval of the lawsuit as a class action.

On August 21, 2022, the Tel Aviv District Court validated a settlement agreement between the parties. According to the arrangement approved on November 19, 2023, the total compensation value stood at 1.3 million shekels and was supposed to be given to customers over a period of 18 months. The company denied the claims but agreed to a settlement after a mediation process before retired Judge Yitzhak Anbar, without admitting responsibility.

The settlement terms included an automatic compensation mechanism: every customer who orders a meal that includes a water bottle will receive compensation accordingly – a 500 milliliter bottle will be replaced with a 750 milliliter bottle, a 750 milliliter bottle will be replaced with a one-liter bottle, and a one-liter bottle will earn the customer a discount of one shekel. The compensation was supposed to be given automatically upon receiving the order, until the total compensation amount was exhausted. If the amount wasn't fully used, its remainder was supposed to be transferred to the public fund according to Section 27a of the Class Actions Law. The court gave the arrangement the force of a judgment, determining res judicata – meaning, an absolute end to all claims on this issue by group members.

In addition to consumer lawsuits, a request was once submitted to approve a class action lawsuit against McDonald's franchisee in Israel claiming "serious and ongoing neglect in branch cleanliness". The findings of the "Maakav" editorial team raise suspicion that the problem hasn't been solved, at least not at the Sarona branch.

In 2024, a significant turning point occurred – McDonald's Corporation, the main American company, announced it would purchase all 225 branches in Israel from franchisee Aluniel. Media outlets interpreted this as part of the effects of boycotts and public pressures on the chain in Israel and worldwide.

International pressures began in November-December 2023, when it was reported that McDonald's franchisee in Israel provided thousands of free meals to IDF soldiers. This move led to protests from various groups and calls for international boycotts against the chain. McDonald's central company announced that this is a "significant impact" on the market in the Middle East region, and international performance is expected to be affected. The transfer of ownership of branches in Israel from the local franchisee to the main American company was perceived as an attempt to minimize brand damage.

Broad criticism of the chain also exists in the context of consumer rights and sanctions. On the Wikipedia website, in the entry on criticism of McDonald's, it was noted that the chain was also criticized for working conditions, food quality, environmental impact, and more. On the Israeli-consumer level, the process that led to the lawsuit settlement shows that even in Israel there is awareness of possible harm to consumer rights. A Reuters article published that the chain was criticized for providing free meals to soldiers, and calls to examine impact on sales and on the brand were also mentioned.

In another report, it was written that the chain in the United States was required to pay compensation of about $800,000 to a girl who was burned by a hot nugget at a McDonald's branch in Florida. This story recalls the famous case of Stella Liebeck who received serious burns from McDonald's coffee in 1992, and it shows that safety problems in food quality and temperature are not new to the chain.

The "Maakav" editorial team sent the Sarona branch a detailed inquiry regarding all the serious allegations that were documented. The inquiry included findings about cleanliness, food storage, restroom blocking, hygiene conditions in the food preparation area, and damage to the public environment. The branch management's response was brief and evasive: "I'll respond" – and that's it. There was no attempt to deal with the allegations, no promise to fix the situation, no apology to customers. Just two words whose purpose is apparently to show that the inquiry was received, but without any intention to do anything about it.

This response is not surprising when examining the overall picture. A branch that is in such a poor state, which customers describe as a "dumpster", and where no one is interested in fixing the situation despite the problems being obvious to all, is unlikely to respond seriously to inquiries. The branch management – or perhaps the entire chain's management – prefers to ignore the problems, continue operating as usual, and hope that customers will continue to come despite everything. This approach is not just irresponsibility toward consumers, but also a health and environmental risk.

The central question arising from the investigation is: who is supposed to supervise this situation? The Ministry of Health is responsible for checking hygiene standards in restaurants, but it's clear that if such inspections are done, they are insufficient or done at too low a frequency. The municipality is supposed to be responsible for cleanliness in public areas, but apparently there is no supervision of the garbage that McDonald's scatters in the park. The chain itself – which has moved from the local franchisee to American company control – should be interested in maintaining its reputation, but it seems that's not enough.

The findings of the "Maakav" editorial team are not just an exposure of problems at a single branch. They expose a systemic failure – the chain's failure to maintain standards, regulators' failure to supervise, and the public's failure that continues to come to this place despite all warnings. Customer reviews tell the story clearly: stale food, poor service, ignoring complaints, shocking cleanliness. And still, the branch continues to operate, without any significant change.

Class action lawsuits filed in the past against the chain ended in settlement arrangements, but it appears they didn't lead to a substantial change in the company's conduct. Within the framework of the agreements, the chain committed to compensate customers for cases of meal non-upsizing and the like.

The lessons from this investigation go beyond a single branch or a single chain. They speak of a culture of indifference – indifference of business owners to consumer rights, indifference of regulators to law enforcement, and indifference of the public to the conditions in which it consumes food. As long as the public continues to come to such places, as long as regulators don't enforce standards carefully, and as long as chains can "get out" with settlement arrangements without admitting responsibility – the situation won't change.

The McDonald's branch in Sarona is not just a case of negligence in cleanliness. It's a symbol of an entire system that has failed – a system in which large food chains can ignore health and safety standards, claim "I'll respond" in response to serious complaints, and continue to operate as if nothing happened. Consumers come, receive poor service and poor quality food, complain in reviews, and ultimately – nothing changes. The chain continues to generate profits, employees continue to work in the same conditions, and the branch continues to be a "giant dumpster", in the words of one of the customers.

The documentation conducted by the "Maakav" editorial team leaves many questions open. Will the Ministry of Health conduct a thorough inspection of the branch? Will the municipality demand that the chain maintain cleanliness in the public space? Will customers stop coming until the situation improves? The answers to these questions will determine whether this investigation will lead to real change, or whether it will join the long list of exposés that leave the system as it is – broken, indifferent, and functioning only for profit, not for the consumer.

Those who visit the McDonald's Sarona branch in the coming days will be able to see for themselves whether the situation has changed. Are the tables cleaner? Is the food stored properly in refrigeration? Are the restrooms accessible to everyone? Has the garbage stopped spreading in the public park? Do employees work with gloves? Is there a real response to complaints, and not just "I'll respond"? The answers to these questions will determine whether the investigation succeeded in bringing about change, or whether it remained another article that people read, get a little angry about, and forget. The ball is now in the court of McDonald's, the regulators, and the consumers themselves.

Photos and videos are available at this link – click here

הפוסט The "Dumpster" Branch: Shocking Documentation from McDonald's Sarona הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

In an eye-opening account published in the British Telegraph, journalist Isabel Oakeshott shared her unexpected encounter with Israel's healthcare system following what she described as an "embarrassing" electric scooter accident in Tel Aviv. Under the headline "What my silly accident in Tel Aviv reveals about truly world-class healthcare", Oakeshott's detailed narrative has cast a spotlight on the stark contrasts between Israel's public healthcare system and Britain's struggling National Health Service (NHS).

Perspective, as they say, is everything in life. When a British citizen experiences Israel's public healthcare system firsthand, it apparently results in profound admiration. Oakeshott, a 50-year-old reporter and commentator for the Telegraph, used her opinion piece published on Wednesday to deliver a scathing critique of Britain's NHS, which has faced years of severe criticism for slow and deficient service, resource shortages, and inefficiency.

The original article was published on the Telegraph website and can be viewed here

In her article, Oakeshott referenced the treatment received by hostages who returned from Gaza "in the world's best hospitals". She then transitioned to her own experience: "The story of how I too ended up in one of these medical facilities does not, unfortunately, involve any heroism in war coverage. Embarrassingly, it involves falling off an electric scooter—an unpleasant accident that nevertheless gave me a taste of world-leading healthcare services".

The accident occurred at dusk as Oakeshott was gliding on the scooter at speed, admiring the view of Tel Aviv's promenade, young volleyball players, and joggers. "Suddenly, the wind blew my hat off, sending it sailing through the air like a small kite. The next thing I knew, I was sprawled on the sidewalk, seeing stars. Perhaps I hit a bump while turning to look for my vanishing hat, or maybe I simply lost my balance. Either way, I flew over the handlebars and landed hard. While my jaw and chin hit the sidewalk, the rest of my body crashed against the folded frame of the scooter".

Two passersby helped her reach a bench, where she sat suffering from dizziness, trying to determine if she had broken any bones or teeth. "I cut my chin and it wouldn't stop bleeding, but everything else seemed generally fine". On her way back to the hotel, her face paled and she developed a severe headache. "Night had fallen by now, and I was alone in a city I didn't know, with only a few shekels in my pocket and not a word of Hebrew. I really, really didn't want to go to the hospital, but the more I searched on Google, the more afraid I became".

She recalled the death of British actress Natasha Richardson, who died after an apparently minor fall on a ski slope. For several hours, Richardson seemed fine while suffering from a fatal brain injury. "What if I too was experiencing what doctors call a 'lucid interval'—a brief symptom-free period of a life-threatening head injury? How could I risk going to sleep? And so I found myself at Ichilov Medical Center".

"There are no miserable NHS-style 12-hour waits here. Just specialist attention within literal minutes", she wrote. It's worth noting that in Israeli hospitals, waiting times for specialist doctors in the emergency room certainly don't stand at just a few minutes, and there are many days throughout the year when people wait long hours in emergency rooms that are overwhelmingly crowded. She was asked to pay £250 (about 1,200 shekels) upfront, as is requested from visitors from abroad.

"Results came back in less than an hour"

"I noticed the eclectic mix of illnesses and injuries typical of all emergency departments: weak people in wheelchairs, anxious mothers caring for sick children". This, according to her description, is where the similarity to NHS emergency services ended. "No one was lying on stretchers in the corridor, no ambulances outside unable to drop off patients due to lack of beds or staff, no need for police officers to maintain order. The atmosphere was completely relaxed".

Within less than an hour, she described, "I was facing a cheerful doctor with excellent English. He looked at me carefully, patched up the cut on my chin, and listened patiently. Blood tests were taken. The results came back in less than an hour. My prognosis? Perfectly fine".

Here again, it should be clarified that the Israeli healthcare system is grappling with a severe shortage of doctors, nurses, and infrastructure. Therefore, patients sometimes have to be hospitalized in corridors, and on most days there are patients in beds waiting in line for emergency care, contrary to the British journalist's description.

Oakeshott came to Israel to learn about the innovation of defense industries and to visit the Technion. "Fortunately, I could still do all that, but the accident shifted my focus to Israel's esteemed healthcare system. The contrast with the NHS was too striking to ignore". She described how, based on mandatory health insurance, Israel ensures universal healthcare even for the poorest citizens. "Both in terms of efficiency and results, it ranks among the best in the world—as I can attest. By 10 PM, I was back in my hotel room, stunned, in pain, and feeling very foolish. I had been in the hospital for less than two hours. (In Britain, about 5,700 patients a day have to wait more than 12 hours to be seen in the emergency room)".

She further described how at Ichilov they use artificial intelligence tools that accelerate the initial reception process and how robots provide guidance and information. "In quiet moments, the staff amuses itself by testing the artificial intelligence: checking if it understands slang (it does) and can distinguish between male and female voices (it can)".

Isabel Oakeshott, it should be noted, has been involved in several scandals that have made waves in the United Kingdom. Among other things, she co-wrote a book describing how former British Prime Minister David Cameron performed a sexual act with a dead pig (the "Pig-gate" affair). She was also at the center of the leak of a telegram from former British Ambassador Sir Nigel Kim Darroch against then-President Donald Trump. The Guardian claimed she obtained the telegram after sleeping with right-wing figure Nigel Farage or businessman Aaron Banks—and was forced to publish an apology.

According to the British journalist, the NHS could learn from the Israeli healthcare system. And what about her own lessons from the accident on Tel Aviv's promenade? She returned to riding an electric scooter but tries to be careful and no longer wears hats that might fly off in the wind.

הפוסט At Ichilov They Save Lives, In Britain – They Wait for Death הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

Later in the interview, Bayrakci tried to calm the situation, but repeated the surprising claim. "I don't want confrontations, I would never want such a headache, but here – perhaps people won't believe me – the Turkish army is capable of penetrating Tel Aviv within 72 hours," he said. These statements come at a time when relations between Israel and Turkey are in ongoing tension, especially in light of the war in the Gaza Strip.

This exceptional Turkish threat comes against the backdrop of reports about contacts precisely aimed at improving coordination between the countries. The "Middle East Eye" website reported yesterday that Israel and Turkey are conducting direct talks in an attempt to establish a permanent military coordination channel in Syria, aimed at preventing friction and military escalation between the two countries.

The site also reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear to security officials that Israel has a "short window of opportunity" to act against bases in Syria before Turkey takes control of them and places its systems there. This information indicates that Israel is concerned about the strengthening of the Turkish presence in Syria and the possibility that this will limit Israel's freedom of operation in the region.

The "Sonar" research institute headed by Bayrakci is considered an influential body in Turkey, although it has no official authority in making security or military decisions in the country. Nevertheless, the harsh statements made by Bayrakci reflect the mood in certain parts of the Turkish discourse towards Israel.

Israel-Turkey relations have seen many ups and downs in recent decades. In the past, the countries were strategic allies, but in recent years, especially under the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, diplomatic relations have deteriorated significantly. Erdogan himself has repeatedly voiced sharp criticism of Israel's policies, particularly in the Palestinian context.

Despite the high tension, both countries continue to maintain certain economic and commercial ties, and there are attempts from time to time to improve relations. The need for military coordination in Syria, as reported, indicates an understanding by both countries that despite differences, there are shared interests in the regional arena.

The current tension comes against the backdrop of additional regional developments, including the involvement of both countries in Syria, where Turkey holds territories in the north of the country, and Israel occasionally carries out attacks against Iranian and Hezbollah targets.

Diplomatic sources estimate that Bayrakci's statements, even if they do not reflect an official position of the Turkish government, could adversely affect the delicate relations between the countries and efforts to create a coordination channel in Syria.

Security officials in Israel approach such declarations with great caution, but assess that they are mainly rhetoric intended for internal needs in Turkey and not a genuine intention for military action against Israel.

The crisis in the region, particularly the war in the Gaza Strip, has led to the strengthening of anti-Israeli rhetoric in Turkey and other countries in the region, and extreme statements of this kind have become more common in the Turkish public sphere.

Bayrakci's exceptional statement adds to the growing tension in the region and fears of further escalation, as the entire Middle East is in a state of instability and high tension. It remains to be seen how these statements will affect efforts to create coordination mechanisms that prevent direct military friction between Israel and Turkey, especially in the Syrian arena.

Photo: AP

הפוסט Turkey Threatens: Capable of Invading Tel Aviv Within 72 Hours הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

While the police accuse MK Lazimi of abusing her immunity and obstructing police work, the MK claims she was assaulted by police forces.

The police released a video of the incident, which they claim shows MK Lazimi "forcefully pushing between police officers and preventing them from confiscating a mobile phone from a woman." The police statement reads: "We regret that a public servant behaves provocatively, cynically using parliamentary immunity, misleading the public, and defaming police officers."

On the other hand, MK Lazimi responded sharply to the police accusations. In a post published on her Instagram page, she wrote: "Yesterday, a police officer told a protester that he would rape his mother in Jerusalem, I myself was attacked at a demonstration in Tel Aviv – police violence at demonstrations is extreme and severe, and no less severe is the violence from the police spokesperson's office, which is lying."

This incident raises acute questions about the limits of Knesset members' authority during demonstrations and, on the other hand, about police behavior towards elected public representatives and demonstrators.

The police emphasized in their statement that they will continue to ensure freedom of protest within the law but will not allow public order violations, criminal acts, or attacks on police officers.

Israel Police reports:

Regarding MK Lazimi, who was present at the scene, we want to clarify that contrary to her claims of allegedly being harmed by police actions, and to prevent misleading the public and unjustified defamation of police officers – we explain that in fact, the MK is using her immunity to interfere with police officers performing their duties.

This was also the case in this incident, when MK Lazimi interfered with police officers performing their duties, forcefully pushing between police officers and preventing them from confiscating a mobile phone from a woman, as seen in the attached video.

We regret that a public servant behaves provocatively, cynically using parliamentary immunity, misleading the public, and defaming police officers. We will not allow anyone to interfere with the work of police officers who work day and night for the benefit of the entire society.

We will continue to ensure freedom of protest within the law, but we will not allow public order violations, criminal acts, or attacks on police officers in violation of the law.

—–
A video documenting the incident with MK Lazimi is attached – this video is an integral part of our response.
Source: Police Spokesperson's Office

הפוסט Confrontation Between Police and Knesset Member Lazimi: Mutual Accusations הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

Tel Aviv Beach July 2023 Dim Amor Photography – MAAKAV

גלריית תמונות של דים אמור, תל אביב 2023 (ישראל).

תמונות: תל אביב ישראל, סוג הצילום: רחוב.

צילום: דים אמור

זכויות שמרות למר דים אמור Ⓒ דים אמור

שימוש בתמונות אך ורק באישור: ‫info.dimamor@gmail.com‬ ( או פניה דיגיטלית – לחץ כאן ).

התמונות מכילות קוד אישי לזיהוי וחיפוש ( הפרת זכויות יוצרים ).

התמונות מכילות קוד אישי לזיהוי וחיפוש ( הפרת זכויות יוצרים ).

הפוסט תל אביב (חוף) יולי 2023 – צילום רחוב, צילום: דים אמור – מעקב || Tel Aviv Beach MAAKAV הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

Фотогалерея Dim Amor, Тель Авив 15/11/2022:

זכויות שמרות: דים אמור Ⓒ דים אמור

הפוסט Фотогалерея Dim Amor, Тель Авив Ⓒ Dim Amor – тайные уголки Тель Авива הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

גלריית תמונות של דים אמור, תל אביב 2022 ( ישראל ).

תמונות: תל אביב ישראל, סוג הצילום: רחוב.

צילום: דים אמור

זכויות שמרות למר דים אמור Ⓒ דים אמור

שימוש בתמונות אך ורק באישור: ‫info.dimamor@gmail.com‬ ( או פניה דיגיטלית – לחץ כאן )

התמונות מכילות קוד אישי לזיהוי וחיפוש ( הפרת זכויות יוצרים ).

זכויות שמרות למר דים אמור Ⓒ דים אמור

הפוסט גלריית תמונות של דים אמור, תל אביב 17.08.2022 Ⓒ דים אמור הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.