Paul Koretz Condemns Ben & Jerry’s, Urges Them to Reverse Course

Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz sent a letter to Ben & Jerry’s on July 21 condemning their July 19 decision to cease operations in the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” and urging them to reconsider.

Koretz noted that the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is celebrating over Ben & Jerry’s decision. “The purpose of BDS is not to protest or change Israeli policy as some claim, but to isolate and pressure Israel until it ceases to exist. BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti has said ‘we oppose a Jewish state’ and that Jewish people ‘are not entitled to self-determination.’ BDS also actively harms peace efforts by opposing Israeli-Palestinian cooperation, fueling more conflict and suffering for both peoples. Even more disturbingly, the movement is led by the Boycott National Committee (BNC) and according to the New York Times, ‘terrorist organizations, including Hamas’ are members of the BNC.”

He added that the BDS movement has resulted in the promulgation of “dehumanizing propaganda about Israelis and promote[s] injustice. The campaign against the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Israel calls its location a ‘settlement,’ when it is in fact an internationally recognized part of Israel. It’s clear this isn’t really about Israeli settlements, but about opposing Israel’s existence.”

Koretz concluded the letter with a call for Ben & Jerry’s “to strengthen your ties with Israelis and Palestinians, support efforts that uplift both communities, and refuse to let your company be used for more hatred and division.”

.@PaulKoretzCD5 to Ben & Jerry's: "The real-life impact of BDS is to spread dehumanizing propaganda about Israelis and promote injustice." Also notes that the B&J factory in is in "an internationally recognized part of Israel," so this is "about opposing Israel's existence." pic.twitter.com/7UTwulaq9T

— Aaron Bandler (@bandlersbanter) July 21, 2021

StandWithUs CEO and Co-Founder Roz Rothstein tweeted, “Thank you, Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Koretz, for coming out strongly against the hateful boycott by Ben and Jerry’s against #Israel. Hopefully many others will follow your role modeling!”

Thank you, Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Koretz, for coming out strongly against the hateful boycott by Ben and Jerry's against #Israel. Hopefully many others will follow your role modeling! @PaulKoretzCD5 @StandWithUs @benandjerrys

— Roz Rothstein (@RozRothstein) July 21, 2021

A spokesperson for Ben & Jerry’s told the Journal they are no longer taking media inquiries.