Ben & Jerry’s freezes out Israeli-occupied territories with ice cream boycott
This week, ice cream tag Ben & Jerry’s launched plans to exit Israeli-occupied territories. In accordance to the industry – known for its Milk & Cookies, Mint Chocolate Cookie, and Americone Dream flavoured ice creams – selling into ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory’ (OPT) is ‘inconsistent’ with its values.
“We additionally hear and recognise the concerned shared by our fans and trusted companions,” famend the emblem.
Ben & Jerry’s has told its licensee Ben & Jerry’s Israel, which makes its ice cream in Israel and distributes it within the field, that’s now not going to renew the license settlement when it lapses at the tip of 2022.
An self enough decision
When Ben & Jerry’s was once offered out by food huge Unilever in 2000, it retained an self enough board that takes decisions about its social mission. The ice-cream tag has beforehand made public its make stronger of LGBTQ+ equality, Fairtrade practices, the Murky Lives Subject motion, and climate justice.
Unilever, which remains ‘completely dedicated’ to its presence in Israel, has described the Israeli-Palestinian war as a ‘very complicated and restful utter’.
Earlier today time, Unilever CEO Alan Jope told reiterated these sentiments to patrons on an earnings call. “I contemplate if there’s one message I would favor to underscore…it’s that Unilever remains completely dedicated to our industry in Israel.”
The CEO persisted: “This was once a call taken by Ben & Jerry’s and its self enough board…and we continually recognise the significance of that settlement.”
Antisemitism accusations
Israel has now not responded favourably to Ben & Jerry’s stance. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told Jope in a phone call that the choice was once a ‘glaring anti-Israel measure’, in step with Bennett’s build of enterprise.
The Israeli government warned Unilever the switch would gain ‘severe penalties, honest and in every other case’ and that it would act ‘aggressively against any boycott measure targeting civilians’.
Other public figures in Israel gain additionally condemned Ben & Jerry’s build. Bennett’s predecessor, took to social media to invent his ogle known, tweeting: “Now we Israelis know which ice cream NOT to use.”
Now we Israelis know which ice cream NOT to use https://t.co/j7VNpIWX0f
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) July 19, 2021
Amongst americans that elaborate Ben & Jerry’s decisions to be primarily based in anti-Semitism consist of the Israeli-American Civic Circulate Network. On Twitter, the community wrote: “Ben & Jerry’s pleasing launched a boycott against Jews. Boycotts against Jews are antisemitic. Ben & Jerry’s is antisemitic…”
Ben & Jerry’s pleasing launched a boycott against Jews. Boycotts against Jews are antisemitic. @benandjerrys is antisemitic. Develop now not be esteem #Benandjerrys. pic.twitter.com/6xF1fPYybL
— Israeli-American Civic Circulate Network (@ICANAction) July 20, 2021
BDS motion backs boycott
The ice cream industry’ decision has additionally attracted make stronger, including from the BDS National Committee – a Palestinian-led motion promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel.
“The BDS motion welcomes Ben & Jerry’s decision as a decisive step towards ending the firm’s complicity in Israel’s occupation and violation of Palestinian rights,” the community famend in a assertion.
“Ben and Jerry’s, a number one socially responsible international firm, is in a roundabout draw bringing its protection on Israel’s regime of oppression against Palestinians in step with its innovative build on Murky Lives Subject and diversified justice struggled.
“We hope Ben & Jerry’s has understood that, in concord with its social justice commitments, there might well well even be no industry as current with apartheid Israel.”
Animated forward, Ben & Jerry’s said it’s a ways not going to pace away Israel fully. Whereas its ice creams will now not be offered within the ‘OPT’, the industry will slay in Israel thru a ‘diversified plan’. “We can half an change on this as soon as we’re ready,” famend the industry.