NJ Treasury Says Ben & Jerry’s Violated State’s Anti-BDS Law

The New Jersey Department of the Treasury announced on September 14 that Ben & Jerry’s and their parent company, Unilever, violated the state’s anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) law.

In a September 2 letter to Unilever CEO Alan Jope, Division of Investment Acting Director Shoaib Khan wrote that Ben & Jerry’s July 19 announcement that the ice cream company would be leaving the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” was in fact a boycott of Israel. As such, the New Jersey Treasury will not be investing any funds into Unilever and will work to divest any holdings it has in the company.

Tonight @NJTreasury announced that the Division of Investment has reached a preliminary determination that Unilever’s actions via Ben and Jerry’s constitute a boycott of Israel and violate NJ law. A letter has been sent to Unilever notifying them of a provisional determination. pic.twitter.com/nPp8gCrkYt

— NJ – Israel Commission (@NewJerseyIsrael) September 14, 2021

Israeli Ambassador to the United States and United Nations Gilad Erdan tweeted that the New Jersey Treasury’s decision was “a step in the right direction” and thanked them “for doing the right thing & taking action against @benandjerrys antisemitic decision to boycott Israel! We will not give @Unilever a free pass when its subsidiary company boycotts the Jewish state!”

A step in the right direction – thank you @NJTreasury for doing the right thing & taking action against @benandjerrys antisemitic decision to boycott Israel! We will not give @Unilever a free pass when its subsidiary company boycotts the Jewish state! https://t.co/17AGR7Hkn0

— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) September 15, 2021

Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Rabbi Abraham Cooper said in a statement to the Journal that the announce was a “powerful development.” “Growing price for Ben and Jerry’s anti-Semitic boycott and parent company Unilever’s refusal to reverse immoral and illegal anti-Israel move.”

Human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO of the International Legal Forum, also tweeted that New Jersey’s decision was “particularly relevant” since Unilever’s United States headquarters are based in New Jersey.

Bravo #NewJersey! Particularly relevant also as @Unilever, the parent company of @benandjerrys, is headquartered in NJ! https://t.co/sLNOc1u9Sz

— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) September 14, 2021

The New Jersey decision comes on the heels of Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee’s September 7 announcement that Arizona will be divesting from Unilever over Ben & Jerry’s Israel decision. “I stand with Israel and will not allow taxpayer dollars to go towards anti-Semitic, discriminatory efforts against Israel,” Yee said.