American ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s will stop selling ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, at the end of next year. Ben & Jerry’s, which is part of Unilever, says the sale is in violation of the values from the company.
The announcement is one of the most glaring actions by a major international company against Israel’s policy of building houses in territories conquered in the 1967 war. Under international law, it is occupied Palestinian territory.
This is not about ice cream, but about politics, says correspondent Ties Brock. “Ben & Jerry’s takes a strong stand against Israeli politics. Because it is a large and internationally known company, this is sensitive for Israel. Many Israelis see it as a stance against the Israeli state or even call the decision anti-Semitic, as also the Secretary of State is doing tonight.”
On the other hand, Palestinian organizations are reacting enthusiastically to the news. Ben & Jerry’s emphasizes that while it will continue to sell ice cream in Israel, a license agreement with a local partner that makes ice cream for the occupied territories will not be renewed.
Israel: Boycott That Doesn’t Work
Despite international protests, Israel has been building settlers’ homes for decades in the territories it conquered in the 1967 war. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is now home to more than 600,000 Israeli settlers, as well as about 3 million Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Bennett called the decision “morally wrong” on Twitter. “There are many brands of ice cream, but only one Jewish state. Ben & Jerry’s has chosen to market its ice cream as anti-Israel.” According to him, the boycott will not work. “We will fight it with full force.”
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