Unilever CEO Alan Jope wrote in a July 27 letter to Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO Jonathan Greenblatt that the company has “no intention” of ever showing support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Jope acknowledged that Ben & Jerry’s July 19 announcement that they were going to leave the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” caused “disappointment and concern,” but assured the ADL that Unilever has a “strong and longstanding commitment to business in Israel.” He pointed out that “around 85% of the products sold in Israel are made in Israel.”
Jope said that under their agreement with Ben & Jerry’s, their independent board has the jurisdiction “to take decisions in accordance with their social mission” and that Ben & Jerry’s will remain in Israel with a new licensee. “We have welcomed this decision to stay in Israel emphatically, and have been seeking to handle this matter in as respectful and sensitive way as possible.”
He then turned to antisemitism and BDS. “Unilever rejects completely and repudiates unequivocally any form of discrimination or intolerance. Anti-Semitism has no place in any society. We have never expressed any support for the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and have no intention of changing that position.”
Greenblatt responded to Jope’s letter with a statement saying they are “heartened” by Unilever’s refusal to endorse BDS and that they are committed to remaining in Israel. “While ADL is a strong supporter of the two-state solution, we believe that it is wrong for any company to single out Israel by refusing to sell its products to Israelis and Palestinians living in the West Bank. We appreciate the unique business relationship between Unilever and its Ben and Jerry’s subsidiary; however, we still urge Unilever to do whatever it can to convince the Ben and Jerry’s board to change its position.”
.@ADL has been engaged in a deep dialogue with @Unilever management since early last week regarding @benandjerrys. After many conversations, I heard directly from CEO @AlanJope this AM.
I still want to see B&J's boycott reversed but glad Unilever unambiguously rejected #BDS. pic.twitter.com/fXiqZN6M8f
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) July 27, 2021
Jope also sent a similar letter to the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish American Organizations. William Daroff, the CEO of the organization, tweeted: “While we appreciate Unilever confirming their commitment to continue doing business in Israel, their response does not go nearly far enough. Unilever reportedly has the legal ability to override the recommendation of Ben & Jerry’s board to boycott Israel; we again strongly encourage them to do so, as boycotts of Israel are discriminatory and further inflame tensions.”
This morning I received a letter from @Unilever CEO Alan Jope, in which he shares Unilever’s commitment to Israel. While we appreciate Unilever confirming their commitment to continue doing business in Israel, their response does not go nearly far enough. https://t.co/EUvtOoDB6X
— William Daroff (@Daroff) July 27, 2021
Unilever reportedly has the legal ability to override the recommendation of Ben & Jerry’s board to boycott Israel; we again strongly encourage them to do so, as boycotts of Israel are discriminatory and further inflame tensions.
— William Daroff (@Daroff) July 27, 2021
The Board of Deputies of British Jews also tweeted that they “welcome” Unilever’s rejection of BDS.
Following the announcement from the Ben & Jerry's Independent Board, we wrote to @Unilever last week together with @JLC_uk
We welcome Unilever's response which makes clear that they reject the BDS movement, and have no intention of changing this position. pic.twitter.com/zed6fTPH1M
— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) July 27, 2021
On the other hand, the anonymous Twitter account known as “GnasherJew” that was a major source of the antisemitism allegations against Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party, tweeted that Unilever’s statement was a “cop out.” “@Unilever are the major shareholder of @benandjerrys & they are allowing one of their [companies] to get away with antisemitism. Who’s got a list of Unilever products? We’re going to #BoycottUnilever please join us.”
This is a cop out from @alanjope. @Unilever are the major shareholder of @benandjerrys & they are allowing one of their company’s to get away with antisemitism. Who’s got a list of Unilever products? We’re going to #BoycottUnilever please join us. #UnileverAntisemitism https://t.co/Qtunj10Mqj
— GnasherJew®גנאשר (@GnasherJew) July 27, 2021
Sussex Friends of Israel similarly tweeted, “The only decision that should be welcomed from Unilever is the one in which they pull up their big boys pants & rescind B&J’s antisemitic boycott of Judea and Samaria and when they tell [Ben & Jerry’s Independent Board Head] Anurahda Mittal to go and take a running jump. Nothing else will do!”
Let’s be clear; the only decision that should be welcomed from Unilever is the one in which they pull up their big boys pants & rescind B&J’s antisemitic boycott of Judea and Samaria and when they tell Anurahda Mittal to go and take a running jump.
Nothing else will do! https://t.co/3TTqjO9fcL
— Self Declared Zionists (@SussexFriends) July 27, 2021
Following the July 19 announcement, Ben & Jerry’s independent board released a statement claiming that the part of the announcement that they were going to remain in Israel was never run by them. Mittal defended herself and Ben & Jerry’s in a July 27 tweet amidst scrutiny of some of her past comments on Israel.
“I am proud of @benandjerrys for taking a stance to end sale of its ice cream in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” she wrote. “This action is not anti-Semitic. I am not anti-Semitic. The vile hate that has been thrown at me does [not] intimidate me. [Please] work for peace – not hatred!”
I am proud of @benandjerrys for taking a stance to end sale of its ice cream in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This action is not anti-Semitic. I am not anti-Semitic. The vile hate that has been thrown at me does it intimidate me.
Pls work for peace – not hatred!— Anuradha Mittal (@Mittaloak) July 27, 2021
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