Ben & Jerry’s announced in a July 19 statement that they will no longer be selling ice cream in the “Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The ice cream company’s statement read, “We believe it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). We also hear and recognize the concerns shared with us by our fans and trusted partners.” They added that they “will stay in Israel through a different arrangement. We will share an update on this as soon as we’re ready.” Prior to their statement, Ben & Jerry’s had been under pressure by pro-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) organizations to divest their holdings from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Unilever, which owns Ben & Jerry’s, said in a statement, “We remain fully committed to our presence in Israel, where we have invested in our people, brands and business for several decades.” They also recognize “the right of the brand and its independent Board to take decisions about its social mission. We also welcome the fact that Ben & Jerry’s will stay in Israel.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid denounced Ben & Jerry’s decision as “a disgraceful capitulation to antisemitism, to BDS, to all that is evil in the anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish discourse. We won’t be silent.” He added that the Israeli government will be pushing for anti-BDS laws to be enforced in the United States against Ben & Jerry’s.
Various Jewish and pro-Israel Twitter users criticized Ben & Jerry’s over their July 19 announcement.
“Has @BenandJerrys ever refused to sell its products in any other disputed territory, anywhere in the world—or is this the only one?” American Jewish Committee Managing Director of Public Affairs Avi Mayer tweeted. “And another question: will @BenandJerrys refuse to sell their products to all the residents of the territory in question—or only to the Israeli Jews who live there?”
Serious question: has @BenandJerrys ever refused to sell its products in any other disputed territory, anywhere in the world—or is this the only one? https://t.co/9PM2nHievA
— Avi Mayer (@AviMayer) July 19, 2021
And another question: will @BenandJerrys refuse to sell their products to all the residents of the territory in question—or only to the Israeli Jews who live there? https://t.co/5kkVRBTJDX
— Avi Mayer (@AviMayer) July 19, 2021
“Ben & Jerry’s has faced pressure to boycott Israel, from antisemitic groups that oppose Israel’s existence. Instead of ignoring this campaign of hate, they are trying to appease the extremists who are pushing it,” StandWithUs Israel Executive Director Michael Dickson tweeted. “It’s a bad decision that will help no-one but most of all will tarnish the reputation of Ben & Jerry’s.”
Ben & Jerry's has faced pressure to boycott Israel, from antisemitic groups that oppose Israel's existence. Instead of ignoring this campaign of hate, they are trying to appease the extremists who are pushing it. (1/2) https://t.co/yjGHG1P2wu
— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) July 19, 2021
It's a bad decision that will help no-one but most of all will tarnish the reputation of Ben & Jerry's. (2/2)
— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) July 19, 2021
Stop Antisemitism tweeted, “Ben and Jerry’s fails to realize BDS refers to ALL of Israel as occupied Palestinian territory. Do they honestly think appeasing these bigots will help anything? Shameful.”
Ben and Jerry's fails to realize BDS refers to ALL of Israel as occupied Palestinian territory.
Do they honestly think appeasing these bigots will help anything?
Shameful. https://t.co/7j2ga7DJqS
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) July 19, 2021
Jerusalem Post Senior Contributing Editor Lahav Harkov noted in a tweet that “some of the replies” to Ben & Jerry’s tweet linking to their announcement “are complaining that Ben and Jerry will continue its operations in Israel at all, which gives away the game: The boycotts aren’t about the ‘occupation,’ they’re about denying Jews self-determination.”
Some of the responses here are complaining that Ben and Jerry will continue its operations in Israel at all, which gives away the game: The boycotts aren’t about the “occupation,” they’re about denying Jews self-determination. https://t.co/VTw48QfH8g
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) July 19, 2021
International human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky pointed to the fact that Ben & Jerry’s “operates in #China, and to the best of my knowledge, has not said anything about Hong Kong or the ethnic cleansing of Uyghurs. But hey, priorities & corporate social responsibility and all that …”
In another tweet, he noted that Ben & Jerry’s “won’t serve ice cream to Jews in Judea & Samaria, but they will enthusiastically endorse avowed racist and antisemite Linda Sarsour? Ok gotcha. Is ok, plenty of great local made ice-creams in Israel!”
Just FYI, @benandjerrys operates in #China, and to the best of my knowledge, has not said anything about Hong Kong or the ethnic cleansing of Uyghurs.
But hey, priorities & corporate social responsibility and all that … https://t.co/XHXSAK6V2R
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) July 19, 2021
Just to be clear, @benandjerrys won’t serve ice cream to Jews in Judea & Samaria, but they will enthusiastically endorse avowed racist and antisemite Linda Sarsour? Ok gotcha. Is ok, plenty of great local made ice-creams in Israel! https://t.co/XHXSAK6V2R pic.twitter.com/a5JkJHocJk
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) July 19, 2021
Tablet Senior Writer Yair Rosenberg, on the other hand, argued that “selling ice cream in Israel but not West Bank settlements is entirely understandable given @benandjerrys’ values and political orientation. They’ve long supported Israel—not the occupation. Distinguishing between the two is anathema to both the Israeli right and BDS, not to them.”
https://twitter.com/Yair_Rosenberg/status/1417152475245826055?s=20
Other Jewish groups celebrated Ben & Jerry’s announcement. Jewish Voice for Peace tweeted that it was a “BDS victory” and “a testament to the power of Palestinian-led organizing and growing public support for Palestinian freedom.”
BDS VICTORY!
This decision is a testament to the power of Palestinian-led organizing and growing public support for Palestinian freedom.
Thank you @VTJP1948, @decolonizebtv, and all of the other groups who have been pressuring @benandjerrys to do the right thing for years. ✊ https://t.co/CKERu9zrPv
— Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive) July 19, 2021
IfNotNow similarly tweeted, “This is an important victory for the movement for Palestinian freedom. After years of pressure from Palestinian organizers, Ben & Jerry’s is modeling one way to hold the Israeli government accountable for the occupation.”
This is an important victory for the movement for Palestinian freedom.
After years of pressure from Palestinian organizers, Ben & Jerry’s is modeling one way to hold the Israeli government accountable for the occupation. https://t.co/d0YTGaSBBN
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) July 19, 2021
