thumb|Starbucks at the Forbidden City, Beijing, China, 2005; closed in 2007Between 2001 and 2003, Starbucks opened six (of 80 planned) locations in Israel and having struggled with fierce local competition, Starbucks, along with its partner Delek, however, in April 2003, after losing US$6 million Starbucks Israel closed all six of its locations in Israel, citing "on-going operational challenges" and a "difficult business environment".
thumb|starbucks at the forbidden city beijing china 2005; closed in 2007between 2001 and 2003 starbucks opened six (of 80 planned) locations in israel and having struggled with fierce local competition starbucks along with its partner delek however in april 2003 after losing us$6 million starbucks israel closed all six of its locations in israel citing "on-going operational challenges" and a "difficult business environment"